Pink Is For Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals by Jess Keating and illustrated by David DeGrand
Whether you love or hate the color pink, this book is sure to make you rethink all that you know about pink! Starting with the blobfish, an animal made of gelatinous goo, the book includes nearly 20 animals in some shade of pink! From tarantulas to armadillos and naked mole rats, readers will learn a lot about these amazing creatures! Each page includes a full-page photograph of the featured animal, while the opposing page includes a brief description, interesting facts, and a breakdown of name, species name, size, diet, habitat, and predators/threats. The final pages include a world map showcasing where the animals live, a glossary of useful words, resources for learning more, and a list of various kinds of scientists and what they study.
Giant Squid by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Giant Squid combines amazing squid facts with beautifully written verse to detail both the mysteries of giant squids and the facts scientists have learned about this creature. Each page reveals another illustrated piece of this magnificent underwater beast - tentacles on one page, then a beak, an eye, a body, until finally a four-page spread reveals the giant squid! This book also includes two pages labeling the squid's body parts, an article on “The Mysterious Giant Squid,” as well as many resources to continue squid research online or via books. This is a great book to both showcase the squid facts we know and to gain a greater appreciation for the work it’s taken to gain our knowledge of squids thus far!
Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford
Inky’s Amazing Escape is based on a real octopus named Inky, who was captured by a lobsterman and taken to an aquarium, only to later escape back into the ocean through a drain! Even though it’s told in story form, the book is full of interesting facts that will teach its readers all about octopi. The colorful illustrations are also beautiful and detailed. This is such a fun story to read, and readers will come to love Inky in all his curious wonder!
Moth: An Evolution Story by Isabel Thomas and illustrated by Daniel Egneus
The story begins with the lines: “This is a story of light and dark. Of change and adaptation of survival and hope. It starts with a little moth.” Then follows the amazing and easy-to-read story of how these tiny creatures have adapted and evolved over time. The illustrations use mixed media, with a dazzling cover that draws in readers. The text also encourages readers to be silent and still as they study these small but mighty creatures. Moth: An Evolution Story will not only teach readers about evolution and adaptation, but gives a greater appreciation for these resilient creatures!
Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton
Looking for a hilarious book that will still leave you stuffed with information? You found it! In Give Bees a Chance, Edgar, the narrator’s best friend, loves all the same things as the narrator (except bees!). Throughout the story, Edgar shares fascinating bee facts in an attempt to lure Edgar into sharing his passion for bees. With illustrations including various types of bees, the anatomy of a bee, and how honey is made, combined with a hive of awesome facts, this book is great for bee-lovers and bee-haters alike (thanks to Edgar’s hilarious anti-bee comments throughout!). Yet after reading this book, even the most avid bee-hater might be willing to Give Bees a Chance.
How to Be an Elephant by Katherine Roy
How to Be an Elephant begins with the birth of a baby African elephant and proceeds to share with readers everything she needs to know to become a proper elephant. From the dynamics of elephant families to their extraordinary noses, hearing, instincts, and growth, readers will come away with tons of content-related information and knowledge about these amazing creatures. Not only that, but the book is full of beautiful watercolor illustrations and diagrams! A must-read.
How to Survive as a Firefly by Kristen Foote and illustrated by Erica Salcendo
This is the fun story of an experienced firefly who teaches the new larvae how to survive as a firefly. From metamorphosis, including the 4 life cycles of a firefly, to bioluminescence, finding a mate, and the formula for their light, readers will be both entertained and informed! With only a series of funny illustrations, the book still manages to sneak in lots of learning, including diagrams, expert tips, frequently asked questions, a list of more resources, and a glossary. Overall, this is a cleverly written book, and we highly recommend you check it out!
Crazy About Cats by Owen Davey
This is a wonderful illustrated guide with all about cats! Readers will be amazed, not only at the knowledge they will learn, but at the many, many varieties of wild cats. Topics include cat mythology, camouflage, body features, and so many more! In addition, the illustrative palette of oranges and greens “evoke a chic, retro vibe.” This book also includes a table of contents and an index. And for those that love this book, there are more in the series!
The Home Builders by Varsha Bajaj and illustrated by Simona Mulazzani
The Home Builders is a beautiful book that features a variety of woodland creatures. The text is simple and poetic, inviting readers to look closer through a series of simple questions. These questions invite readers to take a closer look at the home builders' work, homes, babies, and families. The text is simple but descriptive, making it an easy read-aloud for even the youngest readers to enjoy. The illustrations are very detailed, inviting readers to stop and better examine these woodland creatures. Overall, this is a wonderful tribute to amazing creatures.
Gecko by Raymond Huber and illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Gecko is a perfect fiction/nonfiction mix—each page includes both a textual “story” element and added text in another typeface showcasing gecko facts. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well, featuring a mix of watercolor, acrylic ink, and colored pencil. Readers will come away from this book learning much about geckos—their eating habits, habitat, predators, and much more. In addition to the great information and content-related vocabulary, Gecko also includes an index, making it easy to find specific information.