Face-to-Face with the Hamster ANNOTATION
Simple text explains the life cycle and care of hamsters.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Amy S. Hansen
With charming pictures and easy-to-read text, hamsters' habits are laid out for young readers. Since hamsters are often first pets or pets kept in classrooms, the uncomplicated pages are appropriate for the audience. The book includes a description of the hamsters' night life (which is very active since they are nocturnal animals), their gnawing abilities, their food pouch, exercise requirements, minimal reproduction explanation, and suggestions for toys. There is also a section called the Hamster's family album, which shows pictures and descriptions of wild hamsters and hamster-like creatures around the world. The book is both a how-to-take-care-of-your-pet book and a natural history of the hamster; and it does both jobs reasonably well. My only complaint is the description of the reproduction does not caution the readers that all of the young hamsters must have homes, and finding homes is not necessarily easy. Backmatter includes a list of questions for a young reader to answer and an index. 2004, Charlesbridge Publishing, Ages 4 to 8.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-4-Pet books, particularly those about small, engaging mammals, are usually hot items. This colorful title with its large glossy photos, generally two or more per page, and brief, large-print text will appeal to children preparing a wheedling campaign at home and those with a new pet. The text covers the basics, including diet, life expectancy, housing, and physical characteristics. Birth and mating are mentioned delicately-while newborn hamsters are shown nursing, the procreation process is not discussed or pictured. With its terrific photos, this title will be useful if your pet section needs refreshing.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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