What is this about?
This is a gorgeous, illustrated encyclopaedia of dangerous animals the world over. Filled with illustrations and facts that will keep any reader glued to its pages.
What else is this book about?
It’s about how I score cool-aunty points with my nephews, while throwing in some education about dangerous animals.
Blurb
Dangerous animals get a bad rap, but this beautifully illustrated encyclopaedia helps us appreciate the incredible features of some of our more hair-raising animal species.
With more than sixty of the most deadly and dangerous animals from across the world to explore, every page of this beautifully illustrated volume is more eye-opening than the last. You will learn interesting facts about these fascinating species, (many of which you won’t have even known were deadly) such as how they have adapted to survive and whether we should be threatened by these animals or appreciate them for their incredible features. Children and adults alike will pore over the breathtaking scientific illustrations of unusual animals from the geography cone snail to the wolverine, the Irukandji jellyfish to the slow loris, debating their relative dangerous features, learning about science and nature along the way.
This gorgeous hardcover book is illustrated in exquisite detail by award-winning author and illustrator, Sami Bayly. A brilliant companion to The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals.
You know The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals is perfect when one of your nephews runs screaming when they see the entry for a Crown of Thorns Starfish in an encyclopaedia of dngerous animals.
It was the hundreds of spines, clearly detailed in the drawing that sent one running to the other end of the room declaring he was scared. Mind you, he ran right back and continued reading, so his psyche was not harmed in the making of this book review.
Sixty different animals, spanning the globe over 120 pages. Each is given a detailed image but also information on what makes them dangerous, their diet, where they can be found and their conservation status.
Sami Bayly has filled these pages with what she calls due misunderstood species in the animal kingdom. Included in these pages are sections on the Tasmanian Devil, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Moose and even the German cockroach.
Later, I saw Sami Bayly being interviewed on TV, and describing how she studied how to draw scientifically at university — which I didn’t even know was a thing you could do. Her enthusiasm for these animals and her work was so infectious and I think it translates so well on to the pages of the book.
While the book has its share of larger animals, there are also plenty of smaller ones that kids would never know to be dangerous given their size — however, they are poisonous and lethal nonetheless. Now that was another eye-opener for my nephews.
In the end, this book made both my nephews squeal in glee loudly with every animal they recognised. The art is gloriously detailed and the facts are easily digestible so an aunt who has to think on her feet quickly can keep her nephews enthralled.
What book scores you heaps of points with the younger readers in your family?
“his psyche was not harmed in the making of this book review” Hahaha 😂 It does sound like an interesting book. I love reading and learning about dangerous animals. As long as I don’t have to see them in real life. lol
Tell me about it — I freak out when i even see a spider over here that is bigger than a daddy long legs. And yeah, I was a little bit tense when he ran away screaming, but breathed huge sigh of relief when he came back!
Books that can engage young readers with both text and illustrations are always a bonus. This looks like something both boys and girls would be intrigued (and frightened) by ! It is amazing how facts can be remembered long after the book itself has been forgotten. And yes, I be eager to read it as well. 🙂
I agree boys and girls can learn so much from books like this — and like the facts, if the pictures are great, my nephews remember what they see well after they’ve finished with the book.
Aww, I love hearing how much your nephews loved this book!
Thank you — it’s so cool to watch them get excited about things like this!
Always good to be the cool aunt! 😀 I strive for that with my two nephews, too.
Haaa, I agree — it is always good to be the cool aunt. It’s a hard job, but I’m sure we can do it!
This looks great and I’m sure is a fabulous choice for younger readers who want to know about all the dangerous critters. 🙂
It is so good — and I love that the information is just slightly different enough that it gives kids something new to learn they wouldn’t have already read in another book.
I think I seen that exact same interview the other day, on the ABC? I remember her saying that she plans for an entire series of animal books and also plants I think she might have mentioned. Her work is absolutely lovely and what an incredible gift for little readers and nature lovers this Christmas!
Ooooh, a whole series of books? I saw her on Channel 7 on a Sunday morning — but she may have been doing a promo blitz too. I think I saw something mentioned on her insta about the ABC. I have to keep an eye for this series!
Wow! This looks like a great book to give my granddaughter for Christmas, and I want to get one for myself. They have soem great animal stories on Netflix too that provide the background and living habits of not so well known animals and insects too. Thanks for this great find! Hugs, RO