Review Detail

From the team that brought you Unseen Jungle: The Microbes that Secretly Control Our World comes a fantastic look into what makes pets of all kinds tick! Accompanied by Wilson's charming illustrations, there is information about a wide range of pets and their sometimes strange behaviors.

As a dog lover, I appreciated that the book started with man's best friend... even if things got a little gross when talking about the different kinds of worms that dogs can pick up! Even though I am always good about giving my dogs heartworm medicine, it's very important to understand how easy it is for dogs to get worms, and I can see young readers convincing parents that this treatment for their pets is important, even if it can be expensive. There's a lot of information about cats, their nocturnal habits, and their hunting instincts, and even some discussion of whether or not your cat really likes you. (Even though I've made peace with my grandcat, I still believe that MOST cats just want to do me in!)

Dogs and cats aren't the only pets discussed. Why are birds such messy eaters? It's their job. It was especially interesting to read about the relationships that birds have with each other. I'm not convinced that I could make the life of a goldfish any better, but there are very convincing arguments for ways to do this. I wasn't surprised that gerbils and hamsters communicate through their odors, and I learned a few things about ferrets and rabbits as well. There's even a fascinating bit about reptile parthenogenesis, as well as information about tarantulas and lizards.