El puma (The Puma) Book

Describes the cougar and its natural habitat, including physical traits, social life, survival instincts, birth and development, and interaction with humans.

Veronica Betancourt - Children's Literature

Barrett's book in the "Wild Cats of North America!" series is written factually, with little pretense of interesting readers who are not naturally curious or researching the topic of pumas. However, for those readers with a drive to continue through the less-than-stimulating prose, Barrett yields interesting details about pumas. Allan's photographs are marvelous, with a range of shots that include dramatic close-ups of puma faces, a puma tearing its prey apart, and a mother feeding her young. Barrett does a fine job of explaining the name confusion that often surrounds pumas, which live from the northern Canada to Chile and are differently named in each location. The book is clear, and well researched with an useful glossary. Like its companions in the larger "Wild Animals!" series, this book contains chapters on the animal's physical characteristics, distinguishing traits, social life, eating habits, mating behavior, rearing of its young, and relationship to humankind. The books in the series also include a glossary, reading list (which is of limited use to non-English speaking readers), and an index. 2002, Blackbirch Press/Gale Group, Ages 8 to 10.