(3) PS Bespectacled babies explore the seashore and ocean, with an emphasis on marine animals at different ocean depths and their adaptations. The babies float around in scuba gear, making cartoon speech-balloon comments. Even though the "nerd" label and glasses for anyone interested in science is a bit stereotypical, this is a lively introduction to science for the youngest readers, who are encouraged to "stay curious!"

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(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 Illustrated by Gilbert Ford. From dung beetles to rotten logs to that weird stuff in the back of your refrigerator, this book covers all kinds of decomposition; there's also a chapter that relates what happens when there is no decomposition, specifically in overflowing landfills. The tone is light but respectful, and plenty of real-world examples and illustrations will keep readers engaged. Hands-on activities are scattered through the text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) YA Illustrated by Teagan White. Darwin's groundbreaking argument for biological evolution is made accessible for today's teens, with edits for language and length and the removal of now-inaccurate ideas. After a brief biographical introduction, Stefoff's adapted text follows the structure of Darwin's original but is augmented with well-captioned photographs and diagrams, helpful annotations, and sidebars that explain the work of his contemporaries and today's modern understandings. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Amazing illustrations created entirely with pressed plants are the centerpiece of this nature guide covering the four seasons. Each image reflects an accompanying paragraph on various topics including nest building, deer rutting, and hibernation. Ahpornsiri's book provides a more advanced nature study, so this is ideally suited for upper-elementary-age readers. Appreciation of the art may inspire kids to try their own pressings. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(2) K-3 This small square book depicts animals of India screenprinted on textured paper. The diversity is both biological (tiger, deer, snake, etc.) and cultural, with the images coming from more than a dozen artists from different areas of India. Color choices for backgrounds complement the mostly two-color images of the animals, each given its own spread. Full art notes are appended.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(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 Julian Frost. Scanning electron microscope images by Linnea Rundgren. In this nifty, lighthearted introduction to microbiology, a microbe named Min moves from the book's page to parts of the human body then to a shirt, picking up friends (fellow microbes) along the way. Goofy illustrated microbes are backed up by "really, really close up" photo-images as they comment about their environments (on a tooth: "we're digging cavities!"). A final page reveals more scientific facts about microbes.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) PS Clues written in the first person coupled with illustrations of each animal's tail end encourage readers to guess which animal's head will appear on the following page. Among the mostly predictable answers, a couple of twists are included. Canty's delicate watercolor and mixed-media illustrations are in muted tones and are "adapted from nineteenth-century artwork."

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Penguin Young Readers series. An overview of the Amazon rainforest is organized into chapters and short paragraphs. With clear and immersive language, a leveled text geared toward "fluent readers" smoothly introduces vocabulary as it touches on climate, geography, and the diversity of animals in each forest layer; a final chapter focuses on conservation. Quality photos appear throughout. Young readers will come away well informed. Glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Hannah Bailey. Dixon presents an overview of the concept of evolution and the process of natural selection, then illustrates changes over time across thirteen taxonomic groups. Spread across the pages are familiar animal species such as elephants, crocodiles, snakes, and birds, as well as their ancient relations. Bailey's clear, tidy, field guide–like illustrations of the many species are accompanied by short explanations about their times and locations. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(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) PS Baby Animals series. Noted wildlife photographer Eszterhas (Baby Animals Playing) returns to document wild baby animals on the move: some self-propelling (zebras, orcas), others needing help from adults (a lion cub carried in its mother's mouth, a baby otter riding on its mother's belly). Sharp, clear photos feature close-up shots of the animal babies; the brief text functions mainly as captions.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) PS Animal Babies series. What preschooler can resist photos of baby animals feeding with their parents? The close-up pictures show a variety of animals, each accompanied with a few sentences explaining what's going on. Occasional anthropomorphizing ("Koalas are very picky eaters") is appropriate for the intended audience. The final two pages have author-photographer Eszterhas introducing herself and quick facts about a few more animal babies.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Heidi Smith. Gardner presents facts about twelve commonly misunderstood animals, emphasizing that many creatures aren't what they seem. The book successfully uses page-turns to reveal the beasts' unexpected traits: a rhino is "Tough... / but vulnerable"; an octopus is a "Slimy... / genius." The soft edges of Smith's charcoal-pencil and Photoshop illustrations echo Gardner's subtle message that these animals deserve our respect and care. Reading list.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 George makes the animals kids see at zoos relatable in this behind-the-scenes overview. Accompanied by candid photos, brief anecdote-driven chapters explore different aspects of a zoo animal's life, including regular visits to the veterinarian and time at "school" doing puzzles. Scattered throughout are quirky facts (e.g., bearcats smell like popcorn). Meeting PJ the rhinoceros, Boone the panther, and other real-life zoo inhabitants will likely inspire a trip to the zoo. Glos.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jia Liu. In this playful guessing-game book about animal tongues, each recto of the digital illustrations shows a cartoony monkey with a tongue like the animal on the next page: "If you had a tongue like a whip, you might be an... / anteater!" Brief text then describes how that tongue is used. Final pages focus on human tongues. Readers will enjoy looking at tongues--including their own--in a new way.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Crisp, blocky illustrations accompany short, evocative text describing fifteen Amazon animals (identified at book's end), from leafcutter ants to a jaguar. In full-page spreads, the animals are presented starkly against bold, simple-colored backdrops and alongside poetic phrases emphasizing their wildness and capturing the quiet mystery of the rainforest (jaguar: "Slowly stalking, majestic and silent"). Back matter provides scientific information on each creature.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Translated by Paul Kelly. With finesse and pizzazz, Guiraud depicts a random but marvelous assortment of exotic and familiar birds, bugs, and sea creatures in this large-format "cabinet of curiosities." Whimsically written chapter introductions (translated from the French) urge appreciation and conservation and are followed by several spreads of meticulously detailed illustrations of various animal parts; notes on the pictured creatures conclude most chapters. Guiraud's spectacular art is not soon forgotten.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) 4-6 Halls takes a matter-of-fact look at death and recycling in nature, with a focus on the organisms that decompose and digest previously living matter. Chapters cover the bacteria, microorganisms, and insects that first appear on the scene, as well as small mammals, birds, and crabs. Photographs of both the scavengers and the dead bodies of the scavenged are included. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford