Lesser Spotted Animals (Lesser Spotted Animals)

In a richly entertaining and informative animal guide, Brown introduces 21 creatures that aren't often in the limelight, including the Cuban solenodon, a rare venomous mammal not immune to its own poison; the lesser fairy armadillo ("the big ones are like small armored pigs"); and the Russian desman, "a sort of large, long-tailed underwater mole." Brown's cartooned creatures often stare at readers with expressions of skepticism or even boredom, complemented by dry-witted speech and thought balloons, and the descriptions of the animals are equally droll. "Let's face it," he writes, "the main reason this bat is in this book is because of its name: the dagger-toothed flower bat." Beneath the humor, Brown shows a clear appreciation for biodiversity and a concern for environmental threats threatening many of these animals and their habitats. Ages 7-10. (Jan.)

Gr 3-6—What are a numbat, a zorilla, an onager, a gaur, and a hirola? Readers learn about these unusual animals in this playfully written and witty guide to creatures unknown. Each of the subjects receives approximately two pages of treatment. Page layout is consistent and well organized, with blocks of color drawing attention to the humorous but informative text. Brown offers vivid analogies rather than precise measurements when describing animal sizes; for example, the zebra duiker is "medium dog-size—with skinny legs," while the crabeater seal is "as big as a very tall, fat man—lying down." The subjects inhabit different regions, and tiny maps, occasionally too small to distinguish, identify where they can be found. Among other details are diet and conservation status, derived from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The light, cartoonish artwork matches the tone of the writing. Vocabulary chosen for the glossary continues the fun. Among the terms are more familiar words such as male and female and even the definition of glossary. VERDICT This romp through the lesser-known animal kingdom will inspire appreciation in readers. Highly recommended as an alternative to more traditional works.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH