How to Speak Animal is an ideal gift for readers who love sharing intriguing tidbits about animal behavior, such as what it's called when guinea pigs make excited squeaky jumps (popcorning) or why cats present their butts (a way to say "howdy, friend!"). Lindy Mattice's handsome volume includes loads of facts and lively photos of animals, with descriptions of a range of behaviors for each. The book is divided into nine chapters, with a handy animal icon on the right side of each page so that readers can flip through quickly to find their favorite critter. The writing is clear and interesting, with tips scattered throughout ("If a snake begins to have short, quick tongue flicks, she has become distracted"). How to Speak Animal is as close to a sure thing as a gift giver could hope. --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor