School Library Journal
This slim, oversize book contains superb photos of 20 animals chosen at random from Japanese zoos. They feature huge, full-body images of smaller critters like meerkats and full or partial head shots of the big guys like rhinos and tigers. Foldout pages are used to accommodate such “biggies” as the entire head of a giraffe (tongue extended!). The chatty text offers a simple sentence about each animal and is accompanied by equally simple sets of “fact boxes” (be prepared for lots of data on peeing and pooping). The endpapers contain complete body shots of all 20 animals, along with general data on size, weight, and global distribution. Very handsome indeed, this is a stunning introduction to animals that many children may only see on smaller-than-life-size TV and computer screens.
–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
