Too Hot? Too Cold?

March 1, 2013

Gr1-3-This well-organized title uses a picture-book format to take a relatively boring concept-temperature regulation in people and animals-and make it downright interesting. Arnold touches on all aspects of the subject, from the internal (fevers, muscle contraction, goose bumps, sweating) to the external (sunbathing, burrowing, hibernating, migrating). The text is clear and readable, and the design includes plenty of white space to avoid overwhelming readers. The illustrations, though appealing, feature muted tones that are unlikely to grab readers' attention. The lack of an index or table of contents lessens the book's usefulness for reports.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2013
Grades 1-4 With an open, relaxed format and short blocks of simple text, much of it strategically placed so as to appear as captions for the copious illustrations, this should draw readers regardless of their previous interest in the topic. Beginning with a sound explanation of the difference between warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals, Arnold then contrasts methods that humans and a variety of other animals use to adjust body temperature, such as sweating, body movement, and so forth. The proper terms endothermic and ectothermic are included. Concluding pages give information about temperature-controlling methods unique to animals, like hibernation and migration. The appealing assortment of animals is made even more so by Patterson's attractive watercolors sprinkled throughout. This would work well as an introductory read-aloud and will answer almost any questions young readers might have on the topic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Arnold's explanations of how humans and animals regulate their body temperatures are simple, accurate, and organized into major sections: "Our Bodies Keep Us Warm or Cool," touches on features and mechanisms such as fat, sweating, and shrinking blood vessels; "What We Do to Be Warm or Cold" addresses behavioral techniques (sunbathing, migrating, etc.). Patterson's watercolors engagingly illustrate and expand the text. Glos.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)