Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals

by Ben Rothery

Explore what it takes to be counted among the deadliest animals on Earth . . .From the saltwater crocodile's strong bite to the golden eagle's speed as it attacks from the air, many of the creatures you'll discover here are built for danger. But what makes a chameleon or ant so threatening, and which creature is deadliest to humans despite its tiny size?Find out with award-winning illustrator Ben Rothery's fact-filled world of the most spectacular and sometimes surprisingly dangerous creatures on our planet.

Genres: Animals

48 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2022

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has sections about teeth and claws, and hunters who work together in teams or who hunt alone. We learn about the fastest animals, the stealthiest animals, the ones with the best eyesight, and ones that can mimic plants to fool predators. Each page is full of factoids about amazing animals!

I really liked learning about the African wild dogs, who will sneeze to signal each other that they are ready to hunt. I also loved learning how Peregrine falcons will literally punch their prey with their talons clenched like a fist to stun it before killing it.

However, the book does not always make it clear which factoids are theories and which are backed up by empirical data. It makes me wonder how far the reader can really trust the information when it is not presented clearly. There is a page that says one of the insects evolved millions of years ago. It is worded as if that statement is a fact, but it's really just a theory. One theory among many other theories regarding the origins of the universe.
It seems like every science book that I read these days has this same problem. Stick to the facts, people! Or word the sentence so that it is clear what is theory and what is fact.

I really loved the layout of the pages in this book. There are beautiful illustrations of each animal, and we get a few paragraphs about what makes that animal special. It's an easy and engaging read!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Becky Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, well-illustrated, and fascinating investigation into animals.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but not as cool as his butterfly book.