Jennifer Cossins has a passion for nature and this is reflected in the multitude of books she’s written for younger readers on animals, including the wonderful Amazing Animal Journeys about migration.
In this latest title she takes on all sorts of fabulous facts about the animal kingdom. The longest, the biggest, the shortest, the slowest and the most colourful. But there’s more including the smelliest, the most bizarre defensive mechanisms, the best jumper and the deepest diver among others.
Did you know the smallest bird is the bee hummingbird? Its name comes from the fact that is only the size of a large bee. It is only 5 cm long, weighing in at 2 grams. Hummingbirds can flap their wings at 10 to 90 times per second. The emperor penguin is the deepest diving bird, reaching depths of 500 m in search of its favourite squid dish. The deepest diving mammal is the Cuvier’s beaked whale, which has been recorded at depths of 3 km.
The critically endangered Rüppell’s griffin vulture can fly at an amazing 11 000 metres high. The fastest animal in the world is the peregrine falcon, which literally zooms along at a staggering 300 km per hour.
The stinky facts are perfect for kids to share at the dinner table. The most endangered gives us pause to wonder at how important our diverse world of animals are to keep.
Another wonderful addition to Jennifer Cossins library of books. Perfect for rainy days and placing under the tree at Christmas.
Reviewed by Jane Stephens
Age Guide 7+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Cossinsis a CBCA award-winning artist and writer with a passion for nature, the animal kingdom and all things bright and colourful.
A born and bred Tasmanian, Jennifer also designs homewares, textiles and stationery, which she stocks in her store in Hobart, Red Parka.
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