100 Deadliest Things On The Planet

100 Most

by Anna Claybourne

Packed full of the deadliest things on Earth! The world is a dangerous place; everywhere you look there is something deadlier than the last. There are animals that can use an arsenal of deadly weapons--teeth, claws, stinging spines, powerful pincers, or scary suckers--to fight, hunt, or defend themselves. There are natural disasters--from towering tsunamis to massive volcanic eruptions--that can destroy whole cities in the blink of an eye. With 100 DEADLIEST THINGS ON THE PLANET, young readers will learn all about these ferocious animals, deadly disasters, and much more! Along with all of the interesting facts, 100 DEADLIEST THINGS ON THE PLANET includes side panels, a "deadly factor" rating, and photos throughout to help enhance the level of fright.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Middle Grade, Childrens

112 pages, Library Binding

First published December 1, 2012

About the author

Freelance children’s writer and editor, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Anna Claybourne writes children's information books on all kinds of topics: science experiments, ancient history, the human body, things to make, the environment, robots, evolution, art, fashion, Shakespeare and many more - as well as retellings of myths, legends and Shakespeare plays, and rhyming stories.

She studied English literature at university, but has always been interested in science, technology and art and design as well. She loves making and crafting, especially sewing, and her house is full of fabrics, craft materials, tools and books. Other interests and passions include camping, cats, outdoor swimming, news and politics, and music - she plays the trombone and has played in many different bands and orchestras, including performing live on a John Peel session in 2002 with Scottish band Ballboy.

Anna was born and grew up in Yorkshire, but has also lived in Canada as a student, Iceland as an au pair, and Costa Rica as a conservation volunteer, where she saw tarantulas, tapirs, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and giant katydids. She now lives in Edinburgh with her two children and two cats, Skye and Socks.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be perfectly and entirely honest, there is nothing that Anna Claybourne includes thematics and contents wise in her 2012 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet that is actually WRONG regarding factuality, that is untrue and false. For indeed, ALL of the scenarios Claybourne presents and describes in 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet (dangerous animals, poisonous plants and mushrooms, deadly or potentially deadly diseases, natural disasters) are certainly and definitely dangerous and a threat to human lives (and with the featured natural disasters of course also dangerous for the earth itself and for all forms of life in a worst case scenario). However, how Claybourne presents her 100 dangers is often both annoyingly frustrating and sometimes really woefully misleading and lacking (too often leaving out vital information that actually somewhat mitigates and lessens the threats posed, and not to mention that I find the entire narrational tone of 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet uncomfortable, rather anti nature and offensively "humans above everything" in scope, and which in a non fiction natural history book published in 2012 really does feel majorly out of place and as such pretty much and hugely problematic and weirdly dated).

Because albeit that with regard to the so called dangerous/deadly animals featured in 100 Deadliest Things of the Planet (creatures that attack, that are toxic, that cause disease and so on and so on) Anna Clayborne sometimes does point out mitigations (like for example how far more people are attacked and killed by domestic dogs than by wolves and that rhinoceroses have every reason to fear and to charge not only trophy hunter/poachers but really humans in general) mostly Claybourne rather blithely and blissfully (even if likely not all that deliberately and intentionally) chooses to simply forget about and ignore that large cats, that elephants, sharks and the like (that actually very many animal species considered to be dangerous) face considerably more all encompassing threats from humans than vice versa and that the negative attitude and fearmongering displayed towards in particular sharks in 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet really majorly offends me to on end (not to mention that there seems to be almost a tone of personal blame, condemnation and anger presented by Anna Claybourne towards elephants and also towards their tusks and which truly makes me hugely and lastingly livid and to also wonder if Claybourne is perhaps even somewhat in agreement with poachers slaughtering elephants for their ivory). And yes, I really do totally and majorly hugely despise and am lividly furious that Anna Claybourne does not include human beings in 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet, as come on, aside from perhaps mosquitos, humans are in my personal and not at all humble opinion probably one of the most dangerous creatures if not perhaps even the most dangerous and deadly thing on earth (destroying environments, habitats and ecosystems, trophy hunting, overfishing, culling masses of animals because they might carry disease, greed, pollution, climate change and the list in fact majorly continues, and just to also mention that often regarding natural disasters, human carnage occurs due to bad infrastructure and planning, due to sloppy building codes and greedy developers cutting corners, as well as due to silly and thoughtless yahoos going surfing during floods, during storms and deciding to go snowmobiling in the back-country during avalanche warnings, and which is something that is also not at all considered and pointed out in 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet, as Anna Claybourne obviously mostly wants to keep making humans appear as victims and only very rarely as perpetrators, as instigators or at least as partially sharing at least some personal responsibility for what happens).

So yes indeed and for me, combined with the fact that the accompanying photographs for 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet also totally cater to the horrifying and with regard to the featured animals in particular to depicting gaping mouthes, bared teeth, dripping fangs (focussing on the gross and the disgusting, the threatening) and that there is equally no list of books and websites for further reading being provided by Anna Claybourne, well, 100 Deadliest Things on the Planet leaves pretty much everything to be desired for me, is therefore only a one star rating and is also and of course not to be recommended either (and ever).

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, informative, and often humorous book about things that are deadly. Most of the things featured are plants and animals, but diseases and weather phenomena are also included. Each entry has one page and lots of glossy photographs.

Our oldest borrowed this book from her elementary school library and was so excited to read it. I read a couple of the entries aloud with our girls, but then I had to leave on a trip and I finished the book on my own, while our girls read the rest together.

[Owen Dybus · Rating 3 out of 5]

100 Deadliest Things on the Planet is a average book. If you like nature and animals this book would be a 5/5 book for you. If you are interested in things like this it would be a ⅗ or ⅘ book, if you need a book about creatures this is the perfect one to read and take facts out of. This book does not have any bad pictures or inappropriate language unless you are sensitive to weird looking animals or creatures this might not be the best book for you. If you need a book for a project about creatures and animals use this book by Anna Claybourne.

[Leo Benitah]

100 Deadliest Things on The Planet by Anna Claybourne. It is informational it tells you about the what the deadliest things are it tells you how to deal with them it gives you facts about them and it rates how dangerous they are. I think the theme is Survival. It connects to the real world because of how even when things are dangerous you can still survive and how these Dangerous things are real.
people that like reading non-fiction and deadly things because it is or has both of those things

[Jackie Lantern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well detailed and interesting, informative list.

I hate to think of how many my family had exposed me to by time I was at the age this book was written for as an intended audience, much less by time I turned 17.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheeky nostalgia read. Interesting how my opinions and skepticism changes each read. Still, made it hard to sleep

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

While events such as earthquakes and tornadoes are included in this list, the most interesting items are those involving deadly animals and plants. Specifically, those that pack poison. Phrases such as, “A single golden dart frog has enough paralyzing poison in it to kill up to 20 adults,” really discourage you from walking out in the wild or swimming in unknown waters.
One of the most interesting aspects of these descriptions is that many of the plant and animal poisons are used for medicinal purposes. For example, the poison in nightshade is used to dilate the pupils of eyes. The modern heart medication known as foxglove is from the plant of the same name.
This collection of short visual and textual descriptions of deadly things is very interesting. It provides quality entertainment for readers of all ages.

[Dingus Doo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was somehow my absolute favorite book as a kid, and I was a MASSIVE reader. I still have this thing basically memorized and could flip right to the Botulism page if you wanted me to. This is not an objective rating, I just adore it.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is awsome

[Jacob Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. You should read if you are interested in deadly things.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sixth grade students will LOVE this!!!!

[Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It helps me understand how dangerousannamals can be I’m still looking for this book I lost it 😥😓

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool.

[Jaguar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"100 Deadliest Things on the Planet" by Anna Claybourne lists and describes 100 of the most Deadliest Things. She provides a rating chart (1-5). 5 being deadliest, and 1 being not so deadly. This book is: well written, informative, and a super fun read...yes, I did say fun! This book is very enjoyable. I would be able to read this book multiple times, and still enjoy it just as much as the first time I read it. This book most certainly deserves a 5 star rating.

[Nitza Campos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have many students that love this series. My students are definitely going to LOVE this one, too. Yes, some of the content in this book is the same as in her other books, but the students won't care. This book has insects, marine animals, reptiles, mammals, volcanoes, diseases, and weather changes on its list of most deadly. Kind of makes you not want to leave the house, but in a fun way! :o) The pictures are great and will hook students.

[Lavabearian (Jessica) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The deadly factor with the skull and crossbones was interesting because I learned that mosquitos are actually really lethal in the perspective of deadliest things. This is again for our younger end. I think this will get picked up in middle school, but probably not in my building. A YES vote for me.

[Gabe Gruenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 deadliest things on the planet is a book about deadly animals, diseases ,and natural disasters. It is a great book that tells you how deadly something is and how to avoid it. The setting is everywhere around the world (mostly in africa).

[Sharie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great non-fiction. Difficult to tell whether the deadliest animal might be near you. E.g., Mosquito gets deadliest rating, but due to malaria spread. Book fortunately does not show effect of deadly bites, etc. on the human skin. Those prone to nightmares should stay away from this book, though.

[Tommy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

100 Deadliest Things on the Planet is a very cool book because its got stuff to avoid when your in that country and how Deadly they are and what they can do to you.w

[Tori Drumgold]

it was good I learnt lots of new diseases and poisoning things I like it :)

[Kenyo Sze · Rating 5 out of 5]

can't read it

[Robert Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

It could not have been better. I can't believe all of those stuff. ( A plant being extremely venomous?!)

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the author add a "deadly degree" and there is a fact next to the deadly degree.
The author did a good job on classifying the species of the animals, disasters and diseases.