Gr 5-8-In a very organized and professional manner, a male narrator explains what a mammal is and how it is defined by its mammary glands, hair, vertebrae, and warm-bloodedness. For each category, several animals in action are shown. For example, when mammals with hair are shown, we see the different types of hair found on a cat (whiskers, fur), rhinoceros (horn), and porcupine (quills of several lengths). The narrator explains that birth can take place in several manners (monotreme, marsupial, and placental), and examples are shown. The maturation rate of different mammals are discussed. Mammals' various habitats and means of locomotion are explained. The video includes some narration by multiracial children. A boy and a girl conduct a simple experiment demonstrating how blubber keeps whales warm. The production includes some computer animation, and some vocabulary words appear onscreen. In several places during the presentation, facts are recapped. This entertaining video, packed with great information, can be used both in public and school libraries.
Copyright 2000 School Library Journal. Used with permission.
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