(2) K-3 For some animal species, there are evolutionary advantages to social groupings. "Packs, herds, huddles, and pods. Together, we are better." Salyer introduces young readers to many of the creative words used to describe animal aggregations (an army of frogs, a flamboyance of flamingos, an ­implausibility of wildebeest) but also explains just what those groupings provide: care for their young (elephants, lions); communication to locate food and prey (bats, bees); and safety in numbers (zebras, mongooses). The richly colored illustrations portray the multitudes, often oriented to seem to flow past the observer, or to highlight how animals clustered together make it hard to identify individuals or distinguish them from their backgrounds. The final double-page spread connects the book's message to a familiar social animal--humans--as people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities happily congregate in a village square. "All together...we are better!" Notes at the end of the book identify the exact species portrayed in the illustrations, and caution that many of these species are under threat of extinction. Also appended with a brief bibliography.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Bert Kitchen. Buhrman-Deever imagines the relationships between predators and prey as poetic standoffs. Animal antagonists express their behaviors and needs in a variety of creative poetic formats. Content and cadence are cleverly aligned with the actual behaviors of the animals, and the structure and layouts of the poems also echo traits of the creatures. Illustrations are in soft focus, with stippled green and brown landscapes. Bib.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mike Shiell. Where there's a stink, there's bound to be something disgusting--that's the charm of this book about the olfactory senses of humans and animals. From rotting flesh to poop to skunk spray, readers learn about many aspects of smell. Cartoony caricature illustrations add to the kid-appeal. The fonts of the chapter titles and subject headings are close enough to make the organization a little confusing. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Arnosky explains how the showy appearances or behaviors of animals help them to find mates, scare off predators, and communicate. His excellent illustrations, some across foldout pages, include dramatic portrayals of animals in full display as well as smaller sketches that provide variations across species. Personal notes from the naturalist author-illustrator at the beginning and end add an intimate touch. Reading list.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. Unlike the other chameleons, Leon can't seem to change color to match his surroundings. Readers are interactively encouraged to count, whisper, smile, and more as neon-orange Leon searches for an environment (green jungle? yellow desert?) in which his brilliant glow will fit. Teckentrup's bold digital illustrations play with variations in shade and texture, demonstrating the many ways an animal can blend in--or not, in Leon's case.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(2) K-3 The fourth book in this "seriously funny" animal series follows the same winning formula, this time discussing elephants. The conversational main narrative--covering the two main elephant types, plus their diet, behavior, and defenses--is supported by text boxes, signs, and speech bubbles in which elephants and others offer additional facts and advance a silly subplot. The welcoming cartoon illustrations also effectively balance educating with entertaining. Reading list.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. Photographs by Andrew Martinez. Erickson profiles venomous residents of the sea, including colorful and dangerous corals, anemones, rays, jellies, and worms. Additional sidebar information about species interactions, warnings about the effects of toxins on humans, and vocabulary-heavy details about the underlying science are included. The excellent photographs capture the details of each organism, and diagrams help explain their defense mechanisms. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) YA Approximately one million people are bitten by venomous snakes each year; a tenth of them die, especially in places where there is limited medical care. Hofer considers numerous dimensions of this issue, including snake biology, research, production of antivenom, the evolution of human aversion to snakes, and snakebite treatment around the world. There are almost too many topics tackled, but most are covered in depth. Diagrams and high-quality photographs are plentiful. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Extreme Animals series. In these informational books, collage master Jenkins introduces early readers to some of the fastest (cheetahs, aardvarks) and smelliest (hoatzin, millipede) creatures. A descriptive paragraph provides information about each animal. The books feature dynamic cut-paper illustrations and sidebars highlighting location, food, size, and speed (in Speediest). The final spread contains a summarizing infographic. Bib., glos. Review covers these titles: Speediest! and Stinkiest!

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Extreme Animals series. In these informational books, collage master Jenkins introduces early readers to some of the fastest (cheetahs, aardvarks) and smelliest (hoatzin, millipede) creatures. A descriptive paragraph provides information about each animal. The books feature dynamic cut-paper illustrations and sidebars highlighting location, food, size, and speed (in Speediest). The final spread contains a summarizing infographic. Bib., glos. Review covers these titles: Speediest! and Stinkiest!

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. "Sometimes an animal wants to stand out" for many reasons related to survival. Prolific animal-book authors Jenkins and Page take another look at animal adaptation as they describe why animals puff up, fan out, dance, roar, light up, and more to draw attention to themselves. Such actions are on display in Jenkins's crisp paper-collage art against white backgrounds. More information on each animal is appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 World of Weird Animals series. Illustrated by David DeGrand. This offbeat survey explores several "cute" creatures--from fairy penguins to pom-pom crabs to pangolins--whose endearing features actually help ensure their survival. A spread about each animal features a concise introduction to that creature, a close-up photograph and cartoon illustration, and a sidebar of additional facts. Discussion of "The Science of Cute" and reading comprehension questions conclude this intriguing examination. Glos.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Hannah Tolson. Eyes can be big or small, bulging or hiding, but they are all designed to work for their owners--whether they help an animal see far away, in two directions at once, or in the dark. In the voice of each animal (goat: "I've got OBLONG eyes"), the text is simple but introduces some interesting vocabulary; the bold, clear illustrations give close-ups of the different eyes.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 In profiles of two dozen species, Rosen emphasizes the importance of adaptation in terms of evolution and species survival. Clear prose explains the behaviors of each animal and the functions of its more unusual characteristics, including elaborate ears, noses, and jaws; sidebars provide additional facts and explanations. Multiple photographs of each species emphasize their features. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Paul Daviz. Twenty-one animals, including humans, are profiled with an emphasis on what makes each "weird"; inevitably, it is a body part or behavior that allows the animal to survive. With its large, dazzlingly colored illustrations, this book is good for casual browsing or as an introduction to adaptation. The entry on humans emphasizes using our brains to conserve the amazing animals around the world. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. Featuring a handful of "underdogs" in the animal kingdom, this informative book is also intended to serve as an affirmation for young humans who feel like they just don't fit in. Creatures' seemingly negative attributes are identified and then explained for the lifesaving traits that they actually are. The digital illustrations are friendly and engaging and complement the chatty text. "More About the Underdogs" is appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 Arnosky shares his observations of animals that use camouflage to blend into their surroundings. Excellent explanations highlight the ways that shape, texture, color, and adaptability help these animals survive. His signature combination of finely detailed pencil sketches and full-page acrylic illustrations showcase reptiles, birds, sea animals, and more, over several foldout spreads and in a variety of environments. Reading list.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Animal Olympics series. This series imagines how three species would fare in fictional Olympic competitions. After introducing a human Olympian in the featured sport, each book discusses its animal contenders, focusing on agility and other traits that give the animal an edge. A double-page "Award Ceremony" declares who wins gold, silver, and bronze. Gimmicky but informative. There are four other fall 2017 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Olympics titles: Animal Boxing Stars, Animal Diving Stars, Animal High Jumping Stars, and Animal Gymnastics Stars.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 This book introduces convergent evolution, in which unrelated species develop similar survival traits. Double-page spreads feature two animals with the same feature (e.g., spikes, camouflage, bioluminescence, bills); the accessible text briefly explains how each animal makes use of the shared trait, and up-close photos effectively juxtapose the creatures (e.g., turtle and snail, bird and bat, parrot and octopus). Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: Animal Superpowers series. Each book presents four to five examples of an animal adaptation or behavior, such as wood frogs' freezing to hibernate, with additional similarly adapted animals showcased in "Compare It" inserts. Explanations of each titular behavior are quite brief, but the extended discussions of an individual animal's related habits, complete with multiple photos of each in action, provide good detail. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Searchlight Books: Animal Superpowers titles: Exploding Ants and Other Amazing Defenses, Thousand-Mile Fliers and Other Amazing Migrators, Trap-Door Spiders and Other Amazing Predators, Dancing Bees and Other Amazing Communicators, Frozen Frogs and Other Amazing Hibernators, and Walking Sticks and Other Amazing Camouflage.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford