Freshwater Biomes

Fact Focus: Biome or Habitat?
Biomes are regions of the world that have a similar climate, plants, and animals, such as deserts, forests, rivers, oceans, tundra, and grassland. A habitat is the specific place in a biome where a plant or animal lives.

With some variation, each of the books first defines the particular biome along with the plants and animals that inhabit that biome and the different types of that biome that exist. Each of these topics is presented in a two-page spread with large photographs and short, informative text bubbles. A world map shows the major areas where the biomes exist, and other maps show the location of examples given in the text. There are sections on the food chain, people in the area and resources. The information is rounded out with a look at the threats and future of the biome. Each book ends with a glossary, places to look for more information and an index.

With a large picture of a manatee on the cover, Freshwater Biomes is an appealing book. While designed to teach readers about the environment, plants and animals in fresh water, this book also teases them with interesting facts and details. Like all the books in the “Earth’s Natural Biomes” series, this one has pictures of creatures both large, such as a crocodile and hippo, and small, including a spider 70 mm (2.8 inches) across and an extreme close up of a lovely green and black dragonfly.

Lakes and rivers are both included in fresh water, and the authors use both in the examples throughout the book. The two examples of people in relation to fresh water are those who live on floating reed matts in Lake Titicaca and those who plant rice in a flooded field.

Freshwater Biomes is a very good beginning in learning about water habitats and an interesting way for young readers to gather information.

The “Earth’s Natural Biomes” series is a wonderful introduction to the wide variety of habitats on Earth. Louise and Richard Spilsbury have chosen a diverse range of plants and animals to entice readers into the environments. The books in the series would be a beneficial addition to a classroom or school library as they can expand on the information found in textbooks. They will also be useful to individuals who want to see pictures of nature while they also absorb a few facts.