Early Book Review: Animal FACTopia!: Follow the Trail of 400 Beastly Facts by Julie Beer, Andy Smith, Britannica Group

Animal FACTopia!: Follow the Trail of 400 Beastly Facts, written by Julie Beer, illustrated by Andy Smith, and with facts verified the Britannica Group is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on April 4 2023. Did you know that beavers have orange teeth? Or that some monkeys floss their teeth using bird feathers? Or that one species of bird can walk underwater? Or that alligators stay underwater for longer by swallowing rocks? Or that sea otters use rocks to crack open prey? Interesting facts you might never otherwise know can be found in this book.

Animal FACTopia! is a entertaining, informative, and engaging read. Some of the facts were things I knew, but some were brand new to me. I liked the variety of creatures that are included, and the way the facts are connected together to capture and keep the attention of readers. I thought the illustrations were fun and kept the reader's attention on the page. They were an entertaining and valuable addition to the book. I liked the blend of real pictures, illustrations, and pictures with additional illustration or details added. I also liked that the facts were verified via a valuable and trusted source. Not that I doubt the author in any way, but that extra layer of work means a great deal. In this day when there is so much information available, knowing what is real wand what is just believed with little to no proof is sometimes hard to pin down. There is peace of mind knowing that a children's nonfiction book has that extra work and due diligence put into it before putting a book into the hands of young readers or on a library shelf. 

Book Review: 100 Disasters That Shaped World History by Joanne Mattern

100 Disasters That Shaped World History by Joanne Mattern is a children's nonfiction book. From the Great Fire of London to the Challenger explosion, earthquakes, crashes, floods, and accidents have been major turning points throughout history. In 100 Disasters That Shaped World History, young readers will be introduced to some of the most notorious disasters known to mankind, discovering how these fateful events unfolded-and how they changed the world as we know it.

100 Disasters That Shaped World History is a book that covers a wide range of disasters, including some I would not have never thought to include, like the MGM fire and a molasses flood. The impact of these crisis are covered- such as how laws and regulations followed and how people's behavior did (or did not) adjusted afterwards. This many incidents is a great deal of ground to cover, so some are cover in much more depth than others, but this is an interesting and informative read. I thought the illustrations were less than stellar, but they are credited to the publishing group rather than an individual so that is not terribly surprising. I did like the trivia and project suggestions at the end, but that could have been made even better with some suggested resources for further reading as well. This is an interesting and engaging read for young readers that like history and learning about things that have gone wrong in the past. 

Early Book Review: Geckos Don't Blink by Kelly Tills

Geckos Don't Blink by Kelly Tills is currently scheduled for release on November 2 2021. In this light-hearted book, learn how geckos sneeze and sleep without ever closing their eyes. See all the groovy colors geckos can see at night with their powerful eyes. Enjoy hearing your child shout out the answers to silly questions like "Can a gecko wink when it tells a good joke?" This call and response format is a time-tested method for keeping kids engaged and interacting, instead of just chewing on the pages.

Geckos Don't Blink is a cute and entertaining nonfiction picturebook. While I knew most of the information provided, I do think it will be new to the target audience. I found the phrasing of chosen information, and the delightful illustrations, work together well to capture and hold the attention of the youngest readers. I also like the framing of the book, and series as a whole, that everyone and everything has something weird and wonderful about them. 

Early Book Review: Cows Have No Top Teeth by Kelly Tills

Cows Have No Top Teeth by Kelly Tills is currently scheduled for release on November 2 2021. In this light-hearted book, learn just how much cows like to chew, even without top teeth. They graze all day, then rest, and chew some more. Enjoy hearing your child shout out the answers to silly questions like "Does a cow drink through a straw?" This call and response format is a time-tested method for keeping kids engaged and interacting, instead of just chewing on the pages.

Cows Have No Top Teeth is a fun and informative nonfiction picture book. The illustrations are cute, and catch the eye to hold the attention of the youngest readers. I thought the facts chosen and the phrasing were accessible and interesting.  To be perfectly honest, I had no idea that cows have no top teeth, although I did know most of the other information. I liked that the whole concept of this series, that every one and everything has something different about them, and that difference is wonderful.