“When ostrich runs / on two-toed legs, / he speeds across / the grass. / But stretching out / his puny wings, / it’s up, UP, and— / alas!” (from “Ostrich”). Playful poems introduce animals, birds, and reptiles unique to various parts of the world. Amy Gibson’s poems manage to be both informative and silly, using humor to convey one or two distinguishing facts about each subject. Daniel Salmieri’s amusing illustrations are well-matched to Gibson’s words. The poems are organized by continent, with a “Menagerie of Facts” at volume’s end providing a pronunciation guide and a few more intriguing details about each creature. (Ages 4–8)

Amy Gibson takes readers on a fun-filled, fact-packed, romping, stomping, soaring, twirling, growling, smiling animal adventure around the globe. As readers visit habitats ranging from the Arctic to the savanna, from the Amazon to the outback, they will meet an exciting variety of animals, some familiar (like the cheetah) and some maybe not-so-familiar (like the takin). Charming illustrations by Daniel Salmieri make this a must-have for anyone who loves animals, adventure, and laughing out loud.

Crocodile
If you slosh through a bog,
it may be worth your while -
Stop and pause -
Are those jaws?
(Or a log
with a smile?)

Note: With only their eyes and nostrils above water, crocodiles lie in wait by the riverbank, still as can be. Any resemblance to floating logs ends, however, once they open their mouths.