They seem scary, but some intimidating-looking creatures are fascinating, talented, and important.

What a delightful and educational book! Absolutely gorgeous illustrations, and perfect for teaching that appearances aren’t always as they seem, especially with animals. I also love that the book doesn’t just teach about simple animal characteristics, it also talks about how these animals live in, and affect our ecosystem. No wonder it was a 2019 Mitten Award Top Ten Honoree! Recommended for ages 4 and up, but some of the ecological topics covered may be a little over the little ones’ heads, so be prepared to answer some questions. ( )

Sometimes our first impressions of animals are not quite accurate. Are spiders really ugly awful creatures to be feared? So sharks just wait for you to get in the water to they can bite you? Learn more about these and other fascinating creatures.

The text and illustrations combine beautifully in this book to paint a different picture of animals that are normally thought of as scary and ugly. The soft color drawings combine with words to give the reader a completely different image of each of the animals. This book would be a great read aloud in the kindergarten through second grade classroom as an introduction to an animal unit or simply to discuss common misconceptions or perspective. ( )

animals