Kingfisher Book of Living Worlds (Hardback)

Publisher and industry reviews

UK Kirkus review

This excellent guide to the natural world easily earns its place as part of an award-winning series. It's divided into eight sections, each of which addresses the fragility of a major ecosystem. We learn how animals and plants have evolved to cope with these habitats, how different food chains have developed, and how species interconnect. The authors also focus on the impact humans have made on each ecosystem. The book concludes with an indispensable reference section. Gifford and Cadle's prose remains crisp throughout. The authors clarify all technical terms as soon as they are used and explain difficult concepts in simple language. An extensive glossary at the back of the book will help readers to gain confidence and independence with new terminology. Each section of text is short, focused and supplemented by vibrant illustration, and the format of the text remains consistent, which will encourage and support young readers. Gifford and Cadle show animals and plants to be exceptional and occasionally bizarre - their attention to oddities like the anglerfish, lemur and kangaroo will particularly appeal to the target audience. The book's subject matter is complemented by sumptuous illustrations, with at least three photographs per page. We are treated to dynamic images of a kingfisher mid-dive, lions on the attack and a spider with very hairy knees. The authors include many images of the habitats themselves so each species is put firmly into context. Gifford and Cadle have produced both a celebration and a warning, championing the diversity of our world but also showing how humans threaten that diversity. The authors conclude with a list of websites enabling readers to pursue environmental issues further. Inspired by this excellent book, many are likely to do so. Ages 10+ (Kirkus UK)