Extreme Animal Facts (Jennifer Cossins, Lothian)

Animal books are big business as toddlers to tweens revel in discovering quirky titbits about earth’s creatures. Standing out in a saturated book field is no easy task, but CBCA award-winning artist and author Jennifer Cossins (Amazing Animal Journeys) does so with her latest effort, Extreme Animal Facts. Filled with interesting and bizarre animal facts that may confound the most astute animal-lover, Cossins’s book classifies animals into categories, highlights significant attributes, and showcases the weird and wonderful. Topics veer from typical (biggest, fastest) to the rarely considered—most bizarre defence mechanism, longest continuous flight, most unusual mating ritual—and are elaborate enough to satisfy the sophisticated middle-grade readership. While detail is succinct, with choice facts to whet the appetite, the vast array of information can overwhelm. Muted colour-coded backgrounds alternate, allowing the featured animals to be the focus. Charming, digitally illustrated animals aren’t faithful copies of nature but vibrant and detailed renditions. One quibble is that some animals feature unrecognisable appendages, and perhaps labelling would’ve added interest and clarity. Nonetheless, each fact escalates to another more unbelievable fact, propelling readers through. Hats off to the bombardier beetle, which sprays a burning-hot acid out of its bum to stun predators—most fascinating! Perfectly appealing to children aged 7 to 12 years, this is a must for classroom libraries and fans of Sami Bayly and Matt Chun’s gloriously illustrated animal books.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Marissa Kyriakopoulos is a bookseller and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews