Wanted! Criminals of the Animal Kingdom
by Heather Tekavec (Author) Susan Batori (Illustrator)
Think animals are all well-behaved? Think again. These thirteen play dirty. But they're about to get caught!
A fish who deceives her prey with a light dangling in front of her mouth? A bird who leaves her eggs in another bird's nest to be raised? A monkey who shouts "Danger" to scare away the others from the fruit? Meet some of the animal kingdom's most wanted criminals! Slippery Slick, Queenie the Meanie, Lil' Cupid --- they're all here in this hilarious book of animal case files that include rap sheets, mug shots, reports of criminal activity and more. All thirteen animals stand accused of playing dirty, but now that Detective X is hot on their trail, their criminal days may soon be behind them!
Author Heather Tekavec offers an original approach to investigating animal behavior, with a fun storyline built on hardcore facts. Paired with Susan Batori's cheeky illustrations, this is a laugh-out-loud read that explores fascinating animal science. Each animal "criminal" gets a spread that's filled with facts about the animal's characteristics, including distinguishing features, diet, life span, habitat and more, as well as a description of the animal's "bad" behavior and the reason behind it.
This book offers direct STEAM links to life science curriculum, particularly lessons on the characteristics of living things. The underlying premise of the book also offers the opportunity for discussions on what it means to play fair in the world.
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School Library Journal
Gr 3-5—Detective X, a polar bear with a badge and a magnifying glass, is hunting criminals of the animal kingdom. Their crimes? Llamas are wanted for spitting, cuckoo birds for laying eggs in other birds' nests, and wood frogs for playing dead. In other words, the animals are wanted for exhibiting their natural survival behaviors. The book is structured as a series of criminal dossiers with mug shots and evidence paper-clipped to file folders. The commitment to this structure creates an immersive experience for readers. Batori's illustrations bring big personality to even the littlest of creatures, like red crabs and antlions. However, the book's interesting facts can get lost within the perplexing fictional structure. By the end of the book, all of the animals are in the slammer and a child is considered a menace to society for refusing to go to bed. VERDICT Even in the jokey, tongue-in-cheek fashion in which the book is presented, the criminalization and imprisonment of animals and children for their natural behaviors is a strange conceit that makes the book difficult to recommend.—Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JNF028000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Humor | General
JNF003000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | General
