Curious Critters: Volume Two

Gr 2–5—Twenty-three creatures provide first-person anthropomorphized perspectives on their experiences. Large, clear photographs of amphibians, birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and insects shine against each spare background. While many of those critters will be familiar to young readers (striped skunks and American alligators), there are some unusual choices, from geometer moths to eyed elaters. The photographs are visually stunning with dramatic facial expressions, though they don't always mirror the text. The American alligator section features a lone alligator, though the opening sentence reads, "My brothers and I are practicing bellowing." Statements vary in their appeal. The gold-green sweat bee's interesting perspective strikes with a punch. "Are you nice and sweaty? Great! I'll clean you up. Of course, by 'clean you up' I mean I'll crawl all over your skin and lick up your sweat." Statements from other animals don't add much detail, however, such as this limerick from S. Skunk. "My skunk reputation's maligned./On bees and small rodents I dine./And that spray that you fear/coming out of my rear,/I think odoriferously fine!" While there are no source notes provided, there is a glossary, though the vocabulary provided may surpass the level of understanding for the young audience. Glyptodon is defined, for example, as "relatives of armadillos that lived during the Pleistocene epoch and became extinct about ten thousand years ago." The section "Curious Critters: Natural History" provides a few concluding factual statements. The spread "Curious Critters Life-Size Silhouettes" poses several interesting questions against a backdrop of animal silhouettes. It's the impressive photographs that remain the real star here.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC