Booklist
The urgent question, What's this weird but cute animal? opens each volume of the aptly named Weirder and Cuter series. First up in Horned Lizard is a small, spiny reptile capable of scaring off predators by squirting blood out of its eyeballs. Awesomely weird! The giant, limegreen subject of Luna Moth will stun readers with its beauty and the incredible fact that it has no mouth or stomach. Polish Chicken casts a spotlight on the 1980s rockers of the poultry world, imparting how that outlandish spray of feathers atop the chickens' heads is possible. Seriously adorable photos fill the pages of SnubNosed Monkey, along with explanations of these monkeys' plump lips and signature tiny noses.The highinterest subjects of this series will effortlessly grab young readers, but the books have the added bonus of being well designed and informative. Doublepage spreads succinctly introduce topics, such as where an animal lives and its defining features, diet, and common predators. Colorful photos enliven every spread with fullpage and spot images, and each book features a clear depiction of comparative size and fascinating factoids in addition to the main text. The closing pages offer examples of other weird, related animals (monkeys, lizards, etc.) and a picture glossary. A solid, attractive series that youngsters will love.
