Apes and other hairy primates

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This is one of eight titles in this reference series covering a wide range of topics - from dinosaurs to explorers. This book on apes includes photographs, facts and figures and relevant websites to explore.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

Gr. 4-8. In playful, colloquial style, with brightly colored dramatic photos in the publisher's signature design, these small, attractive titles in the new Secret Worlds series pack in a wealth of important information, some of it quite detailed and technical. The tone is occasionally deliberately wacky, but that's only a hook for a serious in-depth introduction to the subject. The book on apes is a fine informal overview of evolution, biology, habitat, etc., with a strong plea for conservation. The title on explorers does an excellent job of making readers think about the meaning of the title, and individual chapters range from eastern pioneers and European explorers to sea voyages and the space race. Boxes direct readers to Web sites, and an eight-page section at the back of each book is packed with facts, figures, and background. One book in the series, Native Americans, is not recommended, because its cute presentation ("War cries and peace pipes") encourages the paint-and-feathers view. Several other recommended titles are listed in the Series Roundup in this issue. --Hazel Rochman

Horn Book Review

This small book uses anecdotes and numerous photos to describe the world of apes. In addition to discussing biology and social life, the text explores the history of primate research and the connection between apes and humans. The layout is distractingly cluttered, but the information will be useful to report writers. A list of Primate Organizations is appended. Glos., ind. From HORN BOOK Spring 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.