Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals

Readers can guess the identities of 10 animals by studying their skeletons, each of which has a superlative quality (the “biggest” belongs to the blue whale, and a reticulated python has the “most”). The animals’ skeletons appear in bright white set against glossy black backgrounds, accompanied by clues: “Who has a skeleton but no bones? Answer: Me,” hints a hammerhead shark. Intervening spreads show the living animals in their habitats, and flocking offers a tactile way for children to better understand how the creatures’ skeletons relate to their bodies. A stylish introduction to how specialized and different bones can be. Ages 4–9. Author’s agent: Kevin O’Conner, Charlotte Sheedy Literary. (Sept.)