Animal lovers of all stripes will almost certainly find a new creature to adore in the intriguing primer for chapter book readers Weird, Wild, and Rare: Extraordinary Animals of the United States by debut author Elizabeth Eakes and artist Bindy James (illustrator of Curiosity Club). The American pygmy shrew "must eat every fifteen to thirty minutes" or it could die, and the squirrel chimney cave shrimp is found in only one sinkhole near Gainesville, Fla. The United States is "a country with many different environments" where "some of the weirdest, wildest, and rarest animals on Earth" reside. Eakes and James deliver a clever, approachable primer covering just a handful of these incredible animals.
Eakes features species of bugs (like greater wax moths, which have "the best hearing of any insect"), birds (the blue-footed booby, whose "blue feet become brighter when they have recently eaten"), and mammals (like raccoons who eat "ANYTHING"). Rather than break the animals down by size or region, Eakes groups creatures around loose themes, such as residing in extreme habitats or using an unusual method of self-protection. The reasoning for these themes isn't always clear--one grouping is "endangered animals," though different endangered species appear throughout the book--but the fascinating facts about each animal make up for the hodgepodge sorting.
James's charming artwork highlights the "weird" and "wild" features of each animal in semi-realistic spreads that depict their habitats and, occasionally, their young. A particular highlight is James's depiction of the opossum "playing dead," which expertly captures the way opossums flop their limbs to look convincingly deceased. Symbols indicate when an animal is "Near Threatened," "Vulnerable," "Endangered," or "Critically Endangered," and back matter includes a guide on observing animals, a glossary, and tips on how children can get involved in the fight to protect endangered species. For young readers who love nature and trivia, Weird, Wild, and Rare delivers an assortment of absorbing and fascinating animal facts. --Nicole Brinkley, bookseller and writer
Shelf Talker: This charming, fascinating primer for chapter book readers offers an assortment of fun facts about the strangest creatures that call the United States home.