Review by Booklist Review
With pun-tastic relish, Hartman introduces 17 deadly wild creatures, from the "fur-ocious" fennec fox and "otter-ly awesome" sea otter to the deceptively harmless-sounding grasshopper mouse, sea bunny, and slow loris, the last being the only venomous primate, with a toxin "strong enough to make your skin rot like a zombie." García goes with the flow, crafting cartoon images of cute wee creatures with huge, adorable eyes, all smiling fetchingly up at viewers like plush pets begging to be petted--until a page turn reveals (for the carnivores) flashes of fangs or sharp teeth, predatory expressions, and final glimpses of hapless prey. Amazingly enough, a spread of actual photos at the end puts paid to any notion that all the cuteness is at all exaggerated. Better yet, along with scales that rate each animal's "aww- dorable" and "aaaah!-some" levels, the author adds helpful information about physical characteristics, habitats, diet, and conservation status. Offering a heady combination of solid fact and crowd-pleasing theme, this makes a rousing read-aloud candidate to boot.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--5--A staggering number of animals share the world with humans, and some of the cutest creatures are more dangerous than they appear. Young readers are introduced to several of the most adorable villains in the animal kingdom. Each spread features a specific creature, and a plethora of information about that animal is provided. From favorite foods and scientific names to conservation level and habitat, important facts about each featured animal appear in a call-out box. Additionally, a stretch of text details exactly what makes each animal so dangerous. Filled with puns and jokes, the narrative is engaging and entertaining for confident elementary school readers. Brief lines of imagined dialogue incorporate even more humor into the book. Because there is no pronunciation guide or back matter, however, readers must either be familiar with the more challenging vocabulary used within the text or have a trusted caregiver nearby to aid in comprehension. The book primarily showcases illustrated representations of the creatures discussed within, and this design helps to amplify both the animal's level of cuteness and its more vicious side. Colorful endpapers give readers a preview of the characters in the book, and a spread of photographs at the end shows the featured animals in real life. VERDICT This fun and unique nonfiction picture book introduces confident elementary school readers to a selection of cute and dangerous animals found around the world.--Mary R. Lanni
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
"Precious-looking predators" parade their way through this rogues' gallery of menacing cuties. For each animal, a page touting its cuddliness precedes one focusing on its fierce features. The slow loris has poisonous fur and fangs (it's the world's only venomous primate), the "highly aggressive" grasshopper mouse eats scorpions and tarantulas, the hedgehog wields razor-sharp claws, the northern pygmy owl preys on animals three times its size, the penny-size bumblebee bat consumes 4,000 insects in its daily hour of hunting, and the platypus sports venomous barbs (for defeating mating rivals, not for predation). Fabulous facts about several other animals from around the world will fascinate readers, though they likely won't frighten them; despite the title, most of these creatures aren't deadly to humans. Indeed, wordplay such as "howl-arious," "fur-ocious," and "a classowl their own" may be more painful than the wounds these creatures could inflict. But the engaging, informative text, which introduces several potentially unfamiliar animals and offers a new view of well-known ones (dangerous ladybugs?!), will keep readers turning pages. Sidebars list each animal's scientific name, size, habitat, favorite foods, and conservation status. Stylized cartoon illustrations use heavy, simplified outlines and unrealistic effects like starry eyes, while flat backgrounds let readers focus on the fuzzies. The last two pages provide actual photos of each creature. Admittedly, these animals won't kill you, dear reader--still, it's an awe-inspiring lineup of dangerous darlings.(Informational picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
