The animal book Over 100 incredible creatures and how we share the planet with them

This informative guide features more than 100 species that inhabit the planet's continents and oceans. Each creature gets a full page or spread; brief introductions are followed by small text blocks that address animal behavior, anatomy, ecosystems, and assorted notable facts (for example, pigeons can be trained to "spot cancer cells"). A pastel color scheme lets Cooper's illustrations coexist, rather than compete, with photographs of animals and their habitats that appear throughout. It's a thorough, detail-rich, continent-by-continent overview of Earth's extraordinary biodiversity. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 2-5-This coffee-table book examines various animals of the world, arranged by continents and regions: the Arctic, North and Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Antarctica, Oceania, and the oceans. Each one- to two-page entry covers a different creature, with up-to-date tidbits of information accompanying small, full-color photographs. Readers will learn, for example, that the four types of giraffes once considered subspecies are now recognized as separate species, making conservation efforts crucial. A text box includes the animal's scientific name, size (and sometimes weight), diet, endangered status, and an "amazing fact" (for instance, hippos kill in self-defense and are among the most dangerous animals in Africa). A larger drawing of each creature highlights features that might not show up in photographs, such as the female mosquito's tubelike mouthparts, which enable her to simultaneously inject saliva and drink her victim's blood. VERDICT A valuable addition to the 590s section of any library serving elementary schoolers.-Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.