The Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals in the World

Which furry omnivore smells like popcorn? What sea monster has three hearts? How did the blue-footed booby get its name? Learn the answers to these questions and many more!

Jack Hanna's newest book, The Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals in the World, is explores some of the lesser-known creatures in the animal kingdom. Thirty animals, from the okapi to the armadillo and the naked mole rat to the puffer fish, each receive a full page of attention. Filled with large, full-color glossy photos, this book offers a consistent format that includes wild facts at a glance (where do they live, what do they eat and how big do they get), longer story boxes (including history and some of Jungle Jack's adventures with the featured creature) and text bubbles with fascinating details.

Bonus: the book comes with a DVD of bloopers from Jack Hanna's show. My kids love both the book and the video!

While this book comes from a Christian publisher, the only thing that makes this a "Christian" book is the introduction's admission that these are "God's animal creations." The rest of the book purposes only to teach about the animals and not their Creator.

What I Like: Our whole family loves this book! It's perfect for children with short or varied attention spans. Parents can choose what and how much to read without feeling like they're missing large chunks of content. The information is interesting to kids and adults alike! I especially like that that author, a well-known and respected animal celebrity, offers scientific facts about the animals without making any hints toward evolutionary theories. This would be a valuable resource for homeschoolers, as well.

What I Dislike: Nothing. A little more faith content would have been nice, but I don't think it's necessary. This is a fabulous book!

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher says 6-10, but my 4-year-old loves it, too!

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2009; ISBN: 1400311403; Hardback; $19.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $14.99!

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $14.39!

Special Info: If this title interests you, you may also like Passport into the Wild (Thomas Nelson, 2008) which focuses more on geography. It highlights all seven continents and the animals that live there. The book even offers a passport and stickers for the readers to embark on an interactive journey with Jack Hanna.