Review Detail

‘Animal Encyclopedia,’ a National Geographic book, is a beautiful compilation of colorful, engaging photographs showcasing animals of all types, from mammals to birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish. There are tons of interesting facts, including how a newly discovered creature called a Sorting Hat Spider got its name (due to the fact that it looked like the sorting hat in the ‘Harry Potter’ books and the scientists who discovered it were fans of the series). It was also interesting to learn that anteaters have sticky tongues and create a vacuum with their throats in order to suck up their prey, due to the fact that they don’t have teeth.

Fun, “did you know” style facts populate the pages of the encyclopedia, and while the book can’t cover every species on Earth, it does a great job promoting a large variety. An especially neat aspect of the book is that it contains a chart with the common name, size, habitat information, and diet of every creature, along with details on how endangered (or not) each animal is at this time. There is also a glossary along with an index to make it easier to find what one is looking for, as there is far too much in this book to read in one, two, or even ten sittings.

This book is one that will be a welcome addition to any child’s or adult’s bookshelf, so long as that child or adult has a love of animals of any type. There is so much out there to know more about, and this, while maybe just the tip of the iceberg, is a great way to get started in learning more.