A is for Axolotl: An Unusual Animal ABC

PreS-Gr 2--A vividly illustrated alphabet book about some of the more unusual animals on the planet. A world map opens the book, showing the ranges of each animal globally. Each page focuses on a single animal with a name beginning with the featured letter. The bold graphics show what the animal looks like in a natural habitat, with a short rhyming text that shares more about the animal and why it's unusual. This is not always particularly informative or explanatory, leaving readers to wonder why the animal is included. With black backgrounds, the artwork is attractive, but the animals are drawn more adorable than they are in real life, giving the volume a fictional feel. VERDICT A fun title to read, this book works mostly to expose younger readers to animals they may not have encountered before.--Debbie Tanner