| Pacific Tree Frogs
by Leslie Owen, illustrated by George Juhasz
Having been originally attracted to study Biology as a consequence of my encounters with tree frogs, I cannot but applaud the production of concise, very attractive and accurate books on any species of this fascinating genus; Owen & Juharz's is certainly a case in point. The illustrations are excellent, combining respect for realism with artistic composition. The text covers most aspects of the life cycle of this frog, and uses every opportunity to generalise to other amphibians, thus adding to the book's educational value. Being presented in sizable bits, the text makes also a pleasant reading. The information is by en large correct, and finds a comfortable balance between drawing a complete picture of the Natural History of the Pacific tree frog, and overwhelming the (presumably very young) reader with encyclopaedic information. The authors duly fulfil their responsibility in drawing attention to the need for habitat conservation, an action which, alas, is now compulsory when writing about nature. I found only minor points that may need correction: 1) the tadpoles consume substantial amounts of plant matter, mostly algae, not just the micro invertebrates mentioned. 2) I find unnecessary (and incorrect) the implied distinction between mammals and humans (in the paragraph on thermoregulation), and 3) fingernails come in very small sizes indeed, and since the book is aimed at children, I think they may find inaccurate the statement that the froglets are smaller than the smallest fingernails. -
Dr. Constantino Mac�as Garcia, PhD,
Specialist in Behavioural Ecology,
Universidad Nacional Aut�noma de Mexico,
(National Autonomous University of Mexico)
Frog fascination creates prince of a children`s book The Pensacola Business Journal, by Allison McCrory
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