Review by Booklist Review
Fascinating facts about mammals combine with irreverent, exaggerated cartoon illustrations to engage children about the peculiarity of the animal kingdom. Some of the facts are of the need-to-know variety, while others are simply curious tidbits that will lead readers to seek further information elsewhere. (Some adults may feel the need to verify some of the more unbelievable factoids.) The authors connect each animal to the next one discussed and even link the last back to the first. This entry in the Did You Know? series closes with one additional fact about each of the animals and this would have been an appropriate place to insert an actual photo of the animal. A source page would have added credibility, too. Meanwhile, the brief text, in either black or white, is superimposed over Oswald's colorful, full-page illustrations. Pair with Buffy Silverman's Do You Know about Mammals? (2009).--Petty, J. B. Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-These titles are sure to whet the appetites of animal-loving children and maybe even some adults. Each book starts off with a few basic facts in the form of questions, such as "Did you know female chickens are called hens and male chickens are called roosters?" After that, things take off. Cool and intriguing facts about different animals (except household pets) are highlighted in two-page spreads. The transition between animals is smooth, and the authors do a commendable job of connecting or contrasting a fact or attribute of one animal to the next. For example, in Hippos Can't Swim, it is mentioned that jellyfish can produce light in their bodies, which is used to scare off predators. The next animals to be discussed are fireflies, whose light is used to communicate and to attract mates. In addition to the collection of interesting facts, the illustrations are comical and entertaining, though average in quality. Young readers are sure to be amused by these zany looking animals. These lively books are great choices for general purchase.-Jeanette Lambert, Nashville-Davidson County Schools, TN (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Each volume presents select trivia about a variety of creatures. For example, the peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on earth, diving at two-hundred miles per hour (from Chickens); and ants take about 250 one-minute naps a day (from Hippos). While the cartoon illustrations make no attempt to be accurate, they add even more humor to these jocular, enjoyable collections. [Review covers these Did You Know? titles: Chickens Don't Fly and Hippos Can't Swim.] (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
