The Animal Book

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.