Do You Know Where the Animals Live? Discovering the Incredible Creatures All Around Us

This richly detailed animal reference volume moves beyond conventional information—such as shelters, diets, and migratory patterns—to deeper investigations into animals’ emotional lives, focusing on those found predominantly in North American and Europe. Animals laugh, German writer Wohlleben (Peter and the Tree Children) reveals: “Dogs pant, horses whinny, and you can’t hear anything at all with rats... Scientists have to use special microphones to hear the laughter of rats.” In easily digestible blocks of text, readers learn how creatures exhibit bravery and even care for other species: a crow raises a kitten, a humpback whale protects a seal from orcas. Each spread offers a sidebar (“Try This!”), as well as quiz questions; full-color photographs enrich every section, while a warm translation by Tanaka renders Wohlleben’s prose conversational: “When the larvae hatch, they’ll often stay together in kindergartens. If a newt or fish comes to eat them, they’ll jerk like crazy all together in the water, which totally confuses the hunter.” Though differences between egg-laying and milk production are examined, reproduction is not explicitly covered; still, compassion for both the animals and readers throughout makes this an approachable, valuable primer. Ages 7–9. (May)