Andy Warner's oddball histories Pests and pets

Gr 3--5--Warner follows up his history of micronations, This Land Is My Land, with a similarly tongue-in-cheek graphic survey of 18 animals--from dogs and cats to raccoons ("trash-pandas," as they're known in some quarters) and cockroaches. Dividing the volume into three sections titled "Creatures We Find Cute," "Creatures We Find Useful," and "Creatures That Find Us Useful" (categories he admits aren't always that distinct), he chronicles each animal's history, from first its association with humans to modern relationships. In most cases that association began in prehistoric times, but the author notes that animals such as house sparrows and honeybees were introduced to this continent only within the past few centuries--and even more surprisingly, nearly all hamsters sold as pets are descended from one female captured near Aleppo about 90 years ago. Occasionally Warner ventures into controversial territory, as in an entry on chickens ("From the Jungle to the Nugget"), which treats battery farming and even cockfighting nonjudgmentally. Also, his fulsome narrative tends to give the squared-off panels a crowded look. Still, the art's figures and action are easy to make out, and Warner lightens the informational load with comical side comments ("Domestication's a little weird," admits a dog. "Not gonna lie…") and at least balances a pointed observation that no animal we've domesticated has ever gone extinct with a closing plea for more concern about the disappearance of wild species. VERDICT Not always comfortable reading, but middle graders will find these historical profiles of supposedly familiar animals both droll and informative.--John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, NY

Discover how human intervention changed the histories of 18 species. Broken up into the three loose categories--"Creatures we find cute," "Creatures we find useful," and "Creatures that find us useful"--this graphic nonfiction title traces the domestication of common pets and farm animals as well as our relationships with less-popular creatures, such as mice, raccoons, and cockroaches. Each creature is given its own chapter, which introduces general information, such as weight, size, and diet, before delving into its intersection with humankind. The chapters are informative and include enough jokes, quips, and groaners to keep most readers engaged. A few chapters cross over broad categories, intimating at the complexities of humankind's dietary incentives. Rabbits, for instance, have been farmed for their meat for centuries as well as more recently raised as pets, but their introduction into the wild in Australia has been calamitous. The artwork features an international cast of humans representing multiple cultures. The world map that introduces every chapter identifies each species' "(Likely) Wild Origin" and uses star points instead of ranges, which may confuse literal-minded readers. That, and a lack of bibliography, may annoy those seeking to learn more. These quibbles aside, the book is an entertaining, sometimes-sobering look at the effects we've had on the planet. It's a useful title for any nonfiction shelf, but it may need a little support now and then. File this one under "Books we find useful." (timeline, map) (Graphic nonfiction. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.