The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and 76 Other Animals with Weird, Wild Names

Gr 3-6–As the title implies, this compendium of critters with wacky names provides information about more than 70 animals, representing all walks of the animal kingdom. The introduction discusses the importance of names, both for identification purposes and accuracy. It also covers the difference between scientific names and common ones. The book is organized thematically by name; chapters include “Funny Names,” “Delicious Names,” and “Magical Names.” A single chapter might examine insects, mammals, and reptiles. Entries are two or three pages, include drawings and occasional photographs, and share details about habitat, lifespan, and how the creatures got their unusual names. The writing is accessible, funny, and scientific but never excessively silly. Each entry uses a different color background. The eye-catching layouts make the book a great choice for casual browsing and cover-to-cover reading. End matter includes an extensive glossary, a name generator for readers to create their own amusing names, and notes about animal conservation.