Amazing Spiders

The four introductory titles in the Eyewitness Junior series are distinguished by the same sort of spectacular photographs and absolute clarity of text that have served the hugely successful Eyewitness books so well. Tailored for a younger audience, the new series presents information in brief, discrete blurbs--each with an accompanying spot illustration--that ring the spread's dominant image; there are no long, potentially intimidating blocks of text. The tone is lively and friendly, and each page is sprinkled with snappy subheads that catch the eye and imagination. The skillful use of comparisons to scale (each day a pelican eats the equivalent of 20 school lunches) and the inclusion (where appropriate) of myths and other lore in addition to ``hard science'' further heighten the accessibility--and rewards--of these extraordinary voyages into the natural world. Ages 6-10. (May)