Ravens

Product Description Ravens are often feared as symbols of bad luck or even death. And they can often be spotted eating rotting meat. However, ravens are smart, adaptable birds and excellent hunters and foragers. They use tools, work together, and even plan traps to catch prey. Readers will be enthralled to learn more about these birds including how they have been known to lead wolves to prey and then wait patiently for the scraps! From School Library Journal Gr 3-6-The habits of animal scavengers may appeal to readers who like the disgusting side of nature. While these titles provide appropriately detailed descriptions of decayed flesh and rotten fruit, they also offer broader information about each creature, including life cycles, diet, and habitats. Strong layouts feature white print against black pages, along with angled frames that set off the photographs well. Captioned photos provide strong support for the main text, from several vivid close-ups of flesh flies in action to an appealing scene of a coyote pup copying its mother. Some titles feature more gore than others; raccoon foraging is much tamer than flesh-fly eating habits. However, the tone stays scientific rather than sensationalized, and the engaging images are solidly balanced with useful perspectives on the scavengers' role in their ecosystems.α(c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.