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debz57a52's review
This is not quite the kind of book I expected. It's okay - each page or two-page spread spotlights a different unusual creature in our world, with you information about where it lives or what makes it unusual. Lots of pictures are present, sometimes two for a creature. but I got 58 pages in over two sittings and was kind of bored. Hearst keeps the writing light and fun, but I wasn't as interested in the animals as I was when this went on my TBR. For people who are big creature fans, you may enjoy this book more than me. Gave up on 3/3/2024.
inkedmusingshi's review against another edition
4.0
a quick read with lots of facts. 4 stars because I was looking for actual images not so much illustrations
msmelisa's review against another edition
5.0
Charming illustrations and tiny quirky facts make this a great suggestion for the kid that doesn't read. Also very partial to the True or True quizzes.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
Come for the freaky pictures, stay for the entertaining text. Boy, if I could give aspiring nonfiction writers one piece of advice, it would be that. Michael Hearst seems to have figured it out for himself. Did you know that "baby anteaters line up the stripes on their fur exactly with their mother's stripes" while riding on mama's back? Or that the DoD funded a researcher from VA Tech to go to Asia to figure out how flying snakes fly? Yup.
And witty too: "Humans can easily approach Weddell seals. The hard part is getting to Antarctica." In an otherwise (mostly) flawlessly factual entry on the Hammer-headed bat: "Hammer-headed bats are closely related to hammer-headed sharks. Both animals take pride in their ability to easily remove old, rusty nails from lumber."
I.e.: YES. For the school library, the classroom, as a gift for your son's weirdest friend, as a gift for your son's least-likely-to-read-a-book other friend.
And witty too: "Humans can easily approach Weddell seals. The hard part is getting to Antarctica." In an otherwise (mostly) flawlessly factual entry on the Hammer-headed bat: "Hammer-headed bats are closely related to hammer-headed sharks. Both animals take pride in their ability to easily remove old, rusty nails from lumber."
I.e.: YES. For the school library, the classroom, as a gift for your son's weirdest friend, as a gift for your son's least-likely-to-read-a-book other friend.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Creatures so odd that no one can really believe they exist. I could share some of these details but that would ruin the fun. Read it. You will like it.
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