This in-depth nonfiction series, tailored for middle-grade readers, delves into the intriguing lives of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. Both fast facts and in-depth information are accompanied by vivid images and fascinating information about the animals’ daily lives, dietary patterns, natural habitats, and greater ecological contributions. Built on a solid foundation of life sciences, and complemented by captions, charts and graphs, and distribution maps, as well as a table of contents and a glossary, each volume also weaves in a traditional folk story linked to the featured creature. This fusion adds a cross-disciplinary aspect of cultural diversity to the informative content, inspiring further research while aligning with Common Core curricular standards for the middle grades. VERDICT Excellent translations are matched by broad appeal, making this series perfect for any upper elementary or middle school collection.