Take a walk on the wild side and learn about animals in these outstanding non-fiction picture books. All of the books, except where indicated, are good for ages seven and up.
First, let’s look at Scholastic’s “Planet Earth” series. The newest additions to these beautifully photographed books are: Incredible Reptiles, Animals and Their Prey, Big World, Small World and Amazing Animals of the Rainforest. Each book has full page photos along with information that is written simply with fewer words making it more inviting for younger readers. Facts are placed strategically around the photos of the animals prodding the reader to digest and enjoy learning about these unusual wild animals.
Candlewick has a “Read, Listen & Wonder” series with full-paged paintings, as well as read along CD’s. The newest books in this series include: Gentle Giant Octopus, The 
Emperor’s Egg, Tigress, One Tiny Turtle, Big Blue Whale, Bat Loves the Night, Surprising Sharks, Walk with a Wolf and Growing Frogs. Each book is told in a story-form making it more interesting for kids to read.
Nic Bishop has a recent publication to go along with his other animal books. Butterflies and Moths has his signature style of bright photographs and easy to read, yet interesting, text. But it’s his incredible close-up photos of these two insects that will amaze you. There’s even a fold out of the flight of a butterfly.
If you’ve never seen the “Adventures of Riley” series, you’re missing out. Young Riley and his cousin help his uncle, who is a research scientist, locate, discover and learn about animals around the world. The stories are highly successful because children can learn about unique animals as they are woven into an adventure with Riley. The main characters are drawn in a cartoon-style while the animals pictured are from photographs. The newest in this successful series include: Project Panda, Dophins in Danger, South Pole Penguins, Safari in South Africa, Riddle of the Reef and Tigers in Terai.
Kids are always interested in frogs in all their forms. Houghton Mifflin has a series called “Scientists in the Field”. The Frog Scientist, by Pamela S. Turner, and photographed by Andy Comins, is the most recent book in the series and examines many kinds of frogs in a most interesting way. Nic Bishop has photos in another new book about an animal on the verge of extinction. Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia, by Sy Montgomery, is the newest book in this series.
Another series that seems to include many different types of animals is Jim Arnosky’s “All About” series. His painted illustrations are full of information and yet the books are small and have soft covers making them less expensive. Some of the latest books include: All About Turtles, All About Lizards, All about Sharks and All About Rattlesnakes. Mr. Arnosky also has a hard-bound book called Crocodile Safari that includes a DVD.
Smithsonian has a “Q&A” series of inventive books that invite questions and then gives explanations with facts and bright photos. The most recent book is Extreme Coral Reef! Q&A. The animals and plant life that live amongst these beautiful and fragile reefs are breathtaking, and this book helps you appreciate their delicate balance of surviving.
If you’re looking for a series that is geared for younger scientists ages five to eight, Geoff Waring has a series that centers on “Oscar” the cat as he explores the world. The four that have been published so far are: Oscar and the Cricket: A Book About Moving and Rolling, Oscar and the Moth: A Book About Light and Dark, Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound and Oscar and the Frog: A Book About Growing.
How about a really cool pop-up book to learn about animals? Predators, by Lucio & Meera Santoro, will spin your reader into a frenzy to learn more as spiders, crocodiles and tigers jump off the page. These paper engineers are two of the best in the industry and you will not be disappointed. Kids of all ages will love this book!
Simon & Schuster has an “In Siders” series that has the look and feel of encyclopedia books and that are well worth the price. Each book is filled with interesting kid-friendly facts and bright photos that help teach about each animal. Some of the most recently published books are: Insects & Spiders, Sharks and Rain Forests.
Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth, by Nicola Davies, and illustrated by Neal Layton, is a smallish book packed with the most amazing animals that live in the extreme cold and heat - from the top of the earth to the inside of volcanoes.
Just the Right Size: Why Big Animals are Big and Little Animals are Little, by Nicola Davies, and illustrated by Neal Layton, gives a quick synopsis of why size matters with animals and how we are all impacted with the size of creatures. The super powers of many animals are almost overwhelming.
And, if you could only buy one book that’s full of facts about animals that kids will surely pick up and read from cover to cover, 101 Animal Secrets, by Melvin and Gilda Berger, would be the one to get. The layout has an easy to read spread with glorious photos throughout the book.
Kids are bound to not only learn, but be excited, about the information these books hold. And, who knows - perhaps after reading any of these books, a scientist will be born! Enjoy!
