Apex Predators by Steve Jenkins ~ 4 Stars

[Joni]

This is a book that is on the Texas Topaz 2018 youth reading list ( a list of non-fiction). This book is for ages 6-9, grades K-3.

What an enjoyable picture that compares modern day predators to extinct predators from many years ago. Great for kiddos who love to learn about these types of creatures. Very colorful vivid pictures with simple to read text.

A few of my favorites:

The marsupial saber-tooth: extinct 3 million years ago; was probably an ambush hunter which would leap on to deer or other grazing animals, stabbing them to death with its curved canine teeth. This animal looked like the saber-tooth tiger but it was more closely related to the kangaroo...the female raised their babies in a pouch.

The daedon: hunted large grazing animals using its tusks and powerful jaws. It was considered an omnivore as it would feed on plants or kills of other predators. It's nickname was "terrible pig" because it was actually the ancestor of modern hippos and whales.

The one apex predator, the most deadly and efficient, that was no described in this book, was the human. We do not have deadly fangs or claws like tigers or sharks....but we make up for it with our big brains, clever hands and our ability to cooperate.