Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals

There are a lot of dangerous creatures in the world, but Ben Rothery has selected some unique ones to include in this book. He goes into detail about these animal behaviors and attributes that make them deadly, like jaws, claws, speed, stealth, mimicry, and venom. The author shows there's much more to being a predator than being large with sharp teeth or claws. Some animals are deadly because they work as a team while others hunt alone using their intelligence. Animals you don't expect to see on this list are the dragonfly, a peacock mantis shrimp, and a pike. But it's fascinating to see what makes them so dangerous. The one I found most interesting is the assassin bug that feeds on spiders.

In the beginning of the book, before the title page, measurement conversions are given since he uses metric measurements, which is something we aren't used to in the US. I like this addition because it adds another tidbit for children to learn from. The illustrations are beautifully realistic with attention paid to the details. In the back of the book, there's a glossary and a "Dear reader" section that explains how children can have a positive effect on the planet.


Final Verdict: Overall, this is an intriguing collection of deadly animals that children aged eight and up will enjoy reading. It's both educational and interesting. The author talks about animals that are familiar to us and then ones that I've never heard of. I would recommend this to children who love animals and learning about their behaviors. It would also make a good addition to school libraries.