Hawk vs. Owl
From the Set Animal Showdowns
The red-tailed hawk takes on the great horned owl; it's a battle of the fearsome birds of prey. Both are talented hunters with menacing weapons of sharp beaks and claws. Both have excellent eyesight and great speed. Neither raptor has a size advantage. So, how will these territorial creatures compete against each other? Does one bird have stronger claws? Can the hawk outsmart the owl?
SLJ Review of Animal Showdowns
Gr. 3-5 – This new entry in the field of animal battle books takes readers through ten rounds of an imagined fight, supported by interesting facts and solid visuals. Lively present-tense narration describes each stage of the conflict, with points awarded for each section and a running total throughout. Most animal facts are related to predation and defense, with some additional information noted in fact boxes. Some of these pairs could actually meet in the wild; this is usually, but not always, stated clearly in the text. Photographs of combatants highlight features and behaviors related to the fight, such as the zebra’s kick (Giraffe vs. Zebra) and the tiger shark’s teeth (Leopard Seal vs. Tiger Shark). Most show only one of the animals, though staged images in Scorpion vs. Tarantula and an actual photo of two foxes fighting in Arctic Fox vs. Red Fox are particularly satisfying. VERDICT: Strong additions to this popular sub-section of animal books.