Larson’s delightful collection is geared for young children. Poems that are loosely and comically constructed and enhanced by bright, cheerful illustrations provide clues to specific animals. The poems contain considerable amounts of information about each animal’s appearance, lifestyle, diet, and more. The revelation in each one includes an illustration of the animal by artist Janine Schmidt. The illustrations are simultaneously realistic, whimsical, and lovely. For the author’s lessons, a raccoon, a skunk, a “harmless garter snake,” and a white pelican are included in the literary menagerie. As part of the lessons, the author states his case for the manuscript in a poem about the children’s potential interactions with the animals: “And after reading this book, think how your knowledge will grow!”

It seems to be no coincidence that Larson has chosen as his subjects some of the lesser-known or understood animals, about which children may have some ideas but, perhaps, with somewhat negative or apathetic reactions. His vehicle for education is funny, challenging, and not disturbing. Through Larson’s comprehensive and age-appropriate descriptions of the animals’ lives and offspring, children are introduced to the importance of respecting animals’ environments and their right to life. The author, who has other publications in “birthday greetings, graduation cards, and Facebook posts,” was for forty-two years a biology teacher and enjoys sharing a variety of information about the natural world. The information is well presented and will be a pleasant and appropriate addition to a child’s library about the lives and wonders of animals.

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