Almost Invisible Irene

January 1, 2004
Gr 1-3-In the first title, Molly meets a new girl at school who loves bats and is soon dubbed "Vampire Vivian" by the other children. Before long, Molly and her friends notice that there are more bats than usual in the neighborhood. Finally, the mystery is solved: Vivian reveals that she has put a bat house in her yard. The colorful cartoon illustrations keep the action moving along and show Vivian decked out in bat earrings and a bat-wing hairdo. In Irene, a shy girl learns about animal camouflage and attempts to avoid attention by dressing in the same colors as her surroundings. The soft, lighthearted paintings show how she manages to blend in with a variety of backgrounds and also depict several different animals that use camouflage. Children will relate to Irene's dilemma and her thought process. Both stories have boxed facts throughout and an appended page of reading-related activities. These titles have interesting plots beyond the science they introduce and will appeal to beginning readers.-Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI

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