cover image Whose Furry Nose?: Australian Animals You'd Like to Meet

Whose Furry Nose?: Australian Animals You'd Like to Meet

Henrik Drescher. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, $11.95 (33pp) ISBN 978-0-397-32236-7

This companion set provides an introduction to a variety of African and Australian animals, from such familiar creatures as the elephant, giraffe and koala to less widely known species like the pangolin and numbat. The books employ a simple question-and-answer format to good effect; a partial view of each animal is accompanied by a query (""Whose tubby snout?''), and turning the page reveals both the pictorial and verbal solutions (in this example, ``an aardvark's''). A small boy plays the role of discoverer: he and the animals are friendly and expressive, which elevates the lessons beyond mere rote. A concluding spread provides information about each animal and, in many cases, its young. With Drescher's zany, offbeat illustrations, these books offer an engaging introduction to the specialized animals of the African and Australian continents. Ages 3-7. (November)