Jeannie Brett

Wild About Bears was a very informative text that I liked for several reasons. First, I liked that the information was pretty in depth. The author goes into great detail for each type of bear, including their habitat, eating habits, and even some interesting facts. For example, when the author writes about the brown bear, she says, “The brown bear’s slightly curved claws, which grow up to four inches long…they live in mountain meadows, forests, and grasslands.” The information is very thorough for each bear and really increases the amount of knowledge that readers’ will gain from reading the text.

Another thing that I liked about the book was the inclusion of labels and extra-textual information. The author labels the information, includes the scientific name, the size of the bear, and extra tidbits of information. For example, when the author talks about the sloth bear, extra information is given within the picture. It says, “Sloth bear cubs often catch a ride on their mother’s back, clinging to her shaggy fur.” These tidbits of information are extremely interesting and engaging for the reader.

The last thing that I liked about the book was the illustrations. On each page, a bear is described, and the background is their habitat. The background really adds to the information, as it allows the reader to really see where that type of bear would be found. My favorite illustration is of the Sun Bear’s habitat. It allows the reader into that bear’s home and shows us more than what we would be able to picture on our own.

The main thing that I didn't like about the book was the format. I felt that it could have been more professional looking in order to enhance its readability.

The main idea is to give reader’s information about various types of bears. The author gives brief, yet detailed accounts on each type of bear found in the world. She also makes it interesting and provides the reader with very complete information. On the last page, she shows the readers where you can find these types of bears, so that the reader can better relate to the information and apply their knowledge if they ever need it.… (más)