Curious Features of Extraordinary Creatures: Nature’s Cleanup Crew

Gr 1-3–The largest living thing on earth is the American honey fungus, according to this informative and entertaining title. Growing up to 2.4 miles wide, it plays a vital role, as do all the organisms featured in this title, in cleaning up our environment and recycling nutrients into the energy cycle. Fascinating facts abound throughout the well-designed, engaging pages. For example, the reason that scavenger birds, such as vultures, have bald heads is in part so that when they are scavenging inside a dead animal, they don’t get covered in blood. Christmas tree worms have eyespots that allow them to sense the shadows of fish. Once danger is detected, they disappear into burrows and seal themselves in with a flap until danger is passed. And then there is the mighty sea cucumber. One team of these amazing creatures on a coral reef “can sort and clean 50,000 tons of sediment in just one year.” And if danger threatens the sea cucumber, it just squirts its organs out of its rear and then regrows them. Alternating between spreads that provide details about specific scavengers and larger scenes of how scavenger animals work together, the illustrations often use panels to move the action through the scavenging and decomposition process throughout the many ecosystems (forests, oceans, dung piles, etc.) presented. The vital role of scavengers and the current threats they face are detailed in short factoids throughout the visually appealing text with bright colors and enough details to engage young readers.