The Ultimate Animal Criminals - Hardcover

Clive Gifford's books have won numerous awards, including The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, NAPPA, Smithsonian, TES Book of the Year, and School Library Association’s Information Book Prize. Sarah Horne is the illustrator of Dead or Alive: Discover the Most Amazing Animal Survivors, on which she collaborated with Gifford, and Vile: A Cautionary Tale for Little Monsters.

Gr 3–5—The information presented in this book is great for upper-elementary students interested in bloodthirsty, real-life critters who bully, steal, kill, cheat, and commit other "crimes" to survive. Each spread is filled with funny cartoon creatures dressed as ne'er-do-wells, and sometimes there is an accompanying photograph to illustrate the concept or "crime" that is in the text. For instance, readers learn about chinstrap penguins, which steal from one another's nests, or "bandits" like the coatimundi (coati), which ambush their prey. Because this title was originally published in the UK, occasional Briticisms—quantities are given in "centimetres" or other metric measurements, and there are humorous asides, such as "the cheek!" and "dab hands"—could be confusing. Animal books are always popular, and this one is certainly chock-full of facts, including tidbits about famous "criminals" from around the world—Egyptian cobra snake Mia evaded capture from zookeepers at the Bronx Zoo for six days! VERDICT While this isn't a must-have, it will circulate among wildlife-loving crowds.—Heather Massa, East Rockaway Public Library, NY