From School Library Journal Grade 4-7-- Organized like a topnotch aquarium， this book looks at six aquatic habitats from inland lakes and ponds to the open seas. Curtis establishes the importance of water to all life and discusses the effect humans have had on each habitat. Animals--including birds， mammals， fish， reptiles， amphibians， and invertebrates--are described as they relate to their environment. The blend of natural and created (aquarium) habitats is smooth and effective and allows for both a worldwide perspective in the wild and a national look at captive environments. The author's strong stand on conservation may seem heavy-handed to some， as she denigrates the use of animals for entertainment， but her points are well made， politically correct， and thought-provoking. The many clear full-color photographs are informative and well labeled， although not as spectacular as those in recent books by the New England Aquarium. Several small black-and-white photographs depict examples of animals mistreated or harmed by humans. The wide scope and clarity of presentation make this title a fine choice for both browsing and for background reading. --Susan Oliver， Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library SystemCopyright 1992 Reed Business Information， Inc. From Kirkus Reviews Six aquatic habitats (freshwater lakes and wetlands; rivers; estuaries and salt marshes; coasts; coral reefs; and the open sea) and the animals that live in them are described， together with an overview of new aquariums that emphasize displaying animals in naturalistic settings plus chatty facts about birds， mammals， fish and invertebrates living in and around the waterways. The vivid color photos and informational tidbits are intriguing: e.g.， the Baltimore Aquarium discovered that the blue poison arrow frog could be induced to lay eggs in the snapoff bottoms of two-liter soda bottles; and a giant Pacific octopus at the Scripps Aquarium supplemented his diet by climbing out of his tank at night and snacking on fish in neighboring tanks. One error will irritate shark fanciers: ``Instead of laying eggs like most other fish， sharks are live-bearers， animals that give birth to living young.'' Some are， yes， but some aren't (as visitors to the Smithsonian Museum shark exhibit will attest). Still， an attractive and informative book--a strong plea for protecting our watery environment and its inhabitants. Index. (Nonfiction. 10-12) -- Copyright ©1992， Kirkus Associates， LP. All rights reserved. See all Editorial Reviews