Lerner Books has a great series called Creepy Creatures. From birds high in the sky to fish deep in the ocean, spooky creatures live all over! Readers learn all about these animals through vivid photos and accessible text.   And best yet, when you order through me, get 10 free books when you spend $500.

Each title in this series provides a few interesting facts about five or six animals. The creepiness of the creatures usually stems from their appearance or their dangerous qualities, and sometimes both. A spread about the spiny bush viper, for instance, describes its poisonous venom and the size and texture of its scales, with data about length and habitat added in photo captions. The brief information is well supported with large photographs that capture the distinct features noted in the text, like babirusa’s tusks or the teeth of the angler fish. The main text wraps up with a reminder that most animals that appear scary are actually harmless. Closing spreads include a “Spooky or Cute” page, highlighting creatures like the assassin caterpillar, whose spikes are bright-colored but poisonous. VERDICT Brief but appealing introductions to some especially interesting animals.
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Check out this great series from Mitchell Lane and reviewed by SLJ.  Most of the insects in this series are rarely covered in children’s books. Titles feature straightforward descriptions of characteristics and behaviors, accompanied by large ­photographs spanning a page and a half. Unique qualities, like the Matabele ant’s termite predation and the popularity of mopane worms as food for humans, are highlighted. Though there is plenty of intriguing information, the presentations are not always smooth and complete. Readers learn how Madagascar hissing cockroaches hiss, for example, but nothing about how that aids their survival. Some text boxes pack in too many facts. Photographs capture the unusual aspects of each insect fairly well, though not all directly support the textual content.
VERDICT: Worth considering for comprehensive insect species coverage.