• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

The curious facts and exotic fun of the lives of seals and walruses.

The lifestyle of the seals that entertain at marine parks has little to do with how seals, sea lions and walruses actually survive in the wild. Exploring the World of Seals explains how these North American pinnipeds have adapted to live in two habitats, on land and in water. This ancient group of sea mammals comes in wildly different sizes, from the 100-pound ringed seal to the 3-ton elephant seal, and the range of their behaviors varies just as widely. With their streamlined bodies, insulating blubber or fur, flippers where other animals have limbs and long necks, these marine mammals are built to navigate the water in search of food, yet most of them court, mate and give birth on land.

How do seals and walruses regulate their body temperature? How do they see their prey and predators in the dim underwater light? What are the effects of massive oil spills on the survival of these species that have inhabited Earth for millions of years? Exploring the World of Seals provides these answers and many more.

The Exploring the World of... series is written for young readers who are curious about the natural world and the appealing creatures that inhabit it. Like its companion titles, Exploring the World of Seals is packed with facts and offer outstanding value.

Tracy C. Read is an editor and writer who has a special interest in nature and the environment. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Tracy C. Read's profile page

These books look at the animals' physical features, habitats, diets, and behaviors and offer other introductory facts. Well-organized texts and good-quality pictures taken from photo archives provide the basics... Insets of information in colorful circles add to the attractive configuration. The simple language and good use of space make these titles serviceable additions.

School Library Journal

Read provides the readers with a substantial amount of information in a limited space.... [They] are very attractive books for young naturalists [and] good springboards for arousing children's curiosity of wildlife and leading readers to further exploration. The skillful integration of high-quality photographs provides appeal for all readers, including reluctant researchers. Recommended.

CM