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Little Kids First Big Book of Animals


Little Kids First Big Book of Animals
by Catherine D. Hughes
National Geographic, 2010. 128 pages. Nonfiction.

Kids of all ages (and adults) will enjoy the colorful photos and fascinating facts about the various animals in this big book. The chapters are divided by habitat: grassland, forest, desert, ocean, and polar. The text is simple, but full of interesting information, and is written in such a way that you can read as much or as little as your child is ready for. There are sidebars for each animal that list the vital statistics, such as size, home, sounds, etc., and even these are written in a very accessible way. For example, the size of a koala is "about the size of a one-year-old child", and a green sea turtle is "a little longer than a baby's crib." The photos are large, clear, and add to the text--it is worth getting the book just to see the adorable baby otter that has been wrapped up in seaweed to keep it from floating off while its mother is out diving for food. This is a book that will be a favorite.

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