Soft watercolor illustrations amplify brief descriptions of the eight species of sea turtles. Unique characteristics are described in a few carefully chosen words, and the pictures draw readers into the creatures' underwater world. Differences in color, size, shell, etc. are clearly defined. Many pages are devoted to the similarities in the species' reproductive behavior. One double-page spread covers the differences between the more familiar and the seldom seen sea turtles. This book does not provide in-depth coverage; how the creatures breathe when at sea or why their populations have declined by half over the last 20 years are not explained. However, it is an inviting look at how these ancient reptiles live, reproduce, and grow, and at the environmental changes that threaten their existence. Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.