Sad Animal Facts

Animals are fascinating, sure, but former reference librarian and debut author Brooke Barker also finds some aspects of their lives "incredibly sad": "Sea turtles are majestic, but did you know that they never meet their parents, or that octopi don't have friends...? Animals, it turns out, are just as complicated and conflicted as we are." It must be said up front: Sad Animal Facts is really funny, considering. In the "Reptiles & Amphibians" section, a featured fact is: "Fire salamanders eat their siblings." The melancholy cartoon fire salamander is thinking, "being an only child has a terrible aftertaste." In "Mammals," readers discover that "Hippos attract mates by peeing." "Another great reason to be single," says the hippo. In "Marsupials," "Koalas are only social for 15 minutes a day." The koala says, "This is a really fun party but I have to leave immediately." Even with its benign Tinder joke, the content of Sad Animal Facts is largely PG-13. A coffee-table hoot. --Karin Snelson, children's & YA editor, Shelf Awareness
Powered by: Xtenit