The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest - and Most Surprising - Animals on Earth

The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest - and Most Surprising - Animals on Earth
By Steve Jenkins
Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Books For Children, 2013, Ages 6-12

Steven Jenkins brings animals both living and extinct to life in this book of facts. Jenkins starts the book with a general definition of what an animal is, continues through the different animal's lives and deaths, and ends with the beginning of it all. The lucky individual that picks up this book will enjoy reading every page of it.

Jenkins writes this story full of enthusiasm and information. Reading about the different animals in this book, it's clear that Jenkins has a love for science. 

The images throughout this book give any young reader an appropriate and fun visual of what each named animal looks or looked like. With a section full of actual sized animals, any reader can find themselves looking into the face of a Siberian Tiger or comparing their hand to that of a gorilla's. Filled with a variety of diagrams, timelines, and general pictures, anyone reading this book of animals will find it difficult to tire from turning the pages.

Reading this book I found myself glued to the pages. Learning about animals I had never heard of had me searching for more information. The actual sized animals and their features section had me comparing my own eyes and hands to these monstrous beings. I would recommend this book to any child between the ages of 8 and 12. Though a younger reader might enjoy it as well, I think the older children will take away more. The facts listed throughout this book are interesting enough to make any child want to read more.

Reviewed by Kelsey Hadding