Weird & Wild Animals Facts

Readers with an interest in the more gruesome side of the animal kingdom will find plenty of fodder to gross out their friends, enemies, and family members as Loy shares trivia about 14 animals, including octopuses, jellyfish, naked mole rats, and tarantulas. Photo collages, a mix of Loy’s images and photographs from other sources, provide multiple views of each creature, set against digital backdrops. Not all of the tidbits are grisly, but the ones that are hit their marks: “An adult giraffe’s kick is so powerful it can decapitate a lion” (not pictured, thankfully), while vultures’ bald pates mean “there are no feathers to clean after sticking their heads inside the carcass of a dead animal.” Ages 4–8. (Apr.)