Cave
Gr. 3-5. This attractively illustrated introduction to caves and caving begins by instructing readers to explore a pictured square that depicts cave life. The approach is confusing, but the book is chock-full of information. Moving from the cave's entrance to the dark world inside, the author focuses on the abundant wildlife and geological formations, including bats, stalactites, and stalagmites. Paralleling the scientific method, children are encouraged to draw their own conclusions based on the evidence, although more direct explanation would have been helpful. Written with immediacy, the text is illustrated with colorful, detailed line drawings, and there are plenty of sidebars featuring worthwhile experiments. Safety precautions are repeatedly emphasized, making the book good preparation for a family trip to any of the world's other grottoes.Julie Corsaro--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.