Which One Is Right?

Today, exotic and strange pets are more common than ever, and these series feature some popular and curious breeds, as well as old friends. Treatments include basic facts about the animals plus their history, characteristics, distinctive qualities, likes and dislikes, and care instructions.

Gr 3-5–With clear, formal writing, and extensive coverage for their size, these titles are useful for reports. They begin with introductory material such as Craats’s “What is a Gecko?” and follow with chapters covering breed specifics and care. For example, Foran’s “Guinea Pigging Out” chapter describes the pet’s eating habits, Hamilton’s “Fluffing Ferrets” provides grooming tips, and her “Turtle Behavior” includes a listing of “Pet Peeves.” Numerous colorful photographs, charts (e.g., “8 Essential Parts of the Turtle”), and question-and-answer boxes supplement the texts. Mythological, cultural, and literary references such Lomberg’s outline of the “Trojan Horse” legend are appealing extras. Follow-up quizzes, “Frequently Asked Questions” pages, and lists of organizations to contact are also included.

Gr 1-4–Purebred feline characteristics and needs are covered clearly and in reasonable detail in chapters including “Facial Features,” “Body Basics,” “Coat & Color,” and “Health & Care.” For instance, in Abyssinians, four different colors of fur are illustrated and Himalayans recommends cleaning the cat’s eyes as they can get watery. Each title contains a “Vet’s Checklist.” The “All About Me” sections feature preferences from the cat’s perspective–Mack the Maine Coon states, for example, that he dislikes being bored. Chapters also cover “Litters & Kittens” and buying and living with a given breed. A checklist is included to help determine a good match between breed and owner. “Some Things You’ll Need” illustrates required items such as food, a litter box, and toys. These books have a contemporary design. The placement of the text and the eye-catching photos varies from page to page. Supplements include fact boxes, quizzes, and a cartoon illustration with history on the breed.

Gr 2-4–Landau features several of America’s most popularly ranked breeds and makes a case for their “best” qualities, stating in Beagles, for example, that the creatures are “terrific termite trackers.” The four chapters per book cover such topics as “Boxers–Past and Present” and “The Ideal Pet–For Some People,” a chapter in German Shepherds that discusses whether the animal is suitable for a certain type of owner. Portuguese Water Dogs is sure to be popular, as a member of this breed has recently been crowned “First Pet.” The clearly written, engaging, and often conversational texts are complemented by brilliant splashes of color in photographs that depict pets and their owners, working dogs, and some reproductions of historical situations in which the breeds were involved. Text and photo size and placement vary, resulting in striking, above-average page layouts. Occasional media references, such as a sidebar on the canine star of Marley & Me in Labrador Retrievers, make for fun real-world connections. Suggested names for each breed, such as “Diva” and “Ninja” for Yorkshire Terriers, are fun extras.

Gr 3-5–Before Lunis delves into introductory facts and care requirements for these atypical companions, she employs anticipatory storytelling, discussing the antics of a particular pet. The language in these charming books is lively, describing, for example, how ferrets “pounce on loose shoes and socks, play hide-and-seek with their owners, and chase anything that rolls.” The illustrations are vivid, with photos offering some amusing shots such as in Green Iguanas where an owner is pictured walking his lizard on a leash. This series will hold readers’ attention, but also challenge them to consider the responsibilities required of owners of unusual creatures and whether these pets are the right choice. For example, readers are reminded that miniature horses need a big backyard and that potbellied pigs can suffer from boredom or unhappiness when left alone. The texts are supplemented by fact boxes and the further reading includes a link to the publisher’s webliography for each book.

Gr 1-3–The reptiles in this series, some of which are kept as pets, are explored and photographed in their natural, exotic habitats. The books provide rudimentary introductions to the creatures through spreads that feature one or two simply written sentences opposite a full-page photograph. Geckos, for instance, describes the lizards as making a “squeaky noise” and having “sticky toes.” Gila Monsters informs readers that the creature’s bite is poisonous and that it can have a 20-year lifespan. Each title includes a range map. Some graphic photos are included, such as one in Chameleons that shows the creature swallowing another lizard, and another in Horned Lizards that depicts the animal after it has shot blood from its eyes as a defense. Though the photographs are well reproduced, the titles have a muted appearance and an old-fashioned layout. Extras in each book include a “Life Cycle” illustration and a recommendation to use the publisher’s Fact Hound Web site, which offers related Internet resources. Readers may be drawn to this series to learn more about uncommon reptiles, but the books lack visual appeal.

Gr 1-4–Stylish purebreds grace the pages of these titles, which include an introduction, information on appearance, and the definition of a purebred. Stone’s descriptive writing refers to Abyssinians as being the friendliest of cats, Exotics as looking like teddy bears, and Maine Coons as having bushy, ringed tails. The Cat Fanciers Association is consistently referenced as an authority on breed standards. Sections entitled “The Cat for You?” question whether a particular breed, such as a Persian with its daily grooming requirements or a Ragdoll that must be kept indoors, would be a good fit. Segments on history and facts lists discuss pertinent tidbits, such as the Siamese’s Thai origins. The color photos are attractive, but their layout is uninspired. Additional information is given through captions, an “About Cat Breeds” section, and leads to related Web sites.

With the exception of Capstone’s “Reptiles” books, which are not intended as owner manuals, these titles include necessary information for children who are either considering, or already own, specific pets. In particular, the books encourage readers to think about whether or not a particular type of animal is a good fit for them. Weigl’s “My Pet” series will be best for report writing and core K-5 collections, while Bearport’s “Peculiar Pets” will make for delightful general-interest reading and read-alouds. The purebred dog and cat books all feature solid information, but Lerner’s “The Best Dogs Ever” and ABDO’s “Cat Craze” titles stand out because of their innovative, trendy designs.