Review by Booklist Review
For the purposes of this bright, oversize book, a beast is defined as a wild mammal that is both deadly and cunning. Yet with vivid watercolor illustrations and fascinating trivia, Zommer manages to render these fearsome animals as endearing rather than scary. An introduction explains basic characteristics of the main taxonomic families included, such as ungulates, primates, and marsupials. Each beast is described in a two-page spread that opens with a question that activates readers' prior knowledge and provides talking points about the beast's behaviors, diet, special adaptations, and habitat. Animals from around the globe are included and cover familiar species as well as the more obscure. A section in the conclusion discusses beasts that are extinct and those that are currently endangered. Zommer's illustrations are so detailed that children will discover something new with each look. In fact, a did you find? list offers a scavenger hunt inviting readers to examine each spread carefully. Animal lovers will not be disappointed with the quality of facts and the fun presentation.--Anderson, Erin Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Zommer follows The Big Book of Bugs with a book that focuses on wild mammals, referred to throughout (somewhat oddly) as beasts: "Some mammals are friendly and some are beastly! Beasts are deadly, cunning and most importantly, wild!" Questions introduce each spread, which discuss specific mammals, including tigers, wolves, and bats (as well as less "beastly" specimens like beavers and sloths), and more general topics, such as animal footprints, endangered creatures, and animals in urban habitats ("In South Africa lots of baboon habitats have been destroyed. Sometimes a baboon must come into town to find food and shelter"). Zommer illustrates with playful detail in scenes that have a folk-art flair, but this is more a casual introduction to mammal tidbits than an in-depth resource. Ages 4-up. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-By no means a comprehensive collection of all things beastly, this book provides an overview of some of the more popular creatures, from baboons and wolves to tigers and bears. (The "big" from the title refers to the large trim size.) The work is split up into just a few sections: "Beastly Families" (animal family tree), "Claws and Jaws" (protection and defense), and "Howls, Growls, and Smells" (communication). Also included is a section on backyard beasts (e.g., black bears and possums). An interactive "Can You Find?" game involving paw prints adds a bit of fun (answers are offered in the back). The illustrations are vibrant and whimsical, and the animals' facial expressions are bound to elicit laughs. VERDICT A cute addition for libraries in search of a browsable compendium or for fans of Zommer.-Kristin Anderson, Bloomingdale Public Library, IL © Copyright 2017. 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
Assorted wild mammals (some more "beastly" than others) shuffle, sneak, and strut across the pages of this attractive oversize book. Spreads on topics such as "Claws and Jaws" and nineteen individual animals contain a Q and A (e.g., "Why is a tiger stripey?") and a handful of interesting facts, leaving plenty of room for the energetic art. Includes "mystery paw prints" to find throughout. Ind. (c) Copyright 2018. 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.
