Big, Bigger, Biggest

In this brief investigation of relative size, six seemingly unconnected animals, depicted in black with a stamp-like texture, introduce themselves and their dietary preferences, each concluding with the refrain “But I am not the biggest animal....” Throughout, boldly illustrated pages, die-cuts, flaps, and folds create an interactive element. A bear peeks out of a die-cut circle at a blob of honey. A walrus’s tusks seem to leave behind two holes in ice (“I like to eat fish!/ Slurp!”). A hippopotamus’s mound of grass lifts open to reveal a pink hippo mouth interior, and an elephant holds a banana that can be peeled via a simple flap. Finally, a fold-out reveals a blue whale (“I am the biggest animal on Earth!”). While limited text communicates a minimal amount of information about the subject, Deneux’s graphic renderings hold a contemporary visual appeal. Ages up to 3. (Sept.)