Bright, attractive watercolor paintings combine with a prosaic text to create an appealing description of the amazing life cycle of an eel. Each double-page spread is an artful arrangement of oversize text and a large, colorful impressionistic illustration, often embellished with small watercolor insets showing details mentioned in the narrative. Italic-style captions state simple facts about the snakelike creatures. A short, factual introduction and a brief index introduce the nonfiction format to future report writers. An interesting, visually attractive, nonthreatening look at a creature commonly viewed as ugly and menacing. Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.