Odd Animals Out: More than 75 Animals that Break the Rules

by Ben Hoare, Asia Orlando (Illustrator)

Most types of animals are similar to their close relatives, but what about the rebels and the rule-breakers of the animal kingdom? Discover more than 75 creatures that truly stand out from the crowd, with the nature enthusiast and bestselling author Ben Hoare.

From a vegetarian shark and a solar-powered salamander to a flying frog and a bone-munching bird, this book is all about the "odd ones out" in the natural world. Get acquainted with quirky animal outliers around the world and find out what these nonconformists do to survive in the wild, and how they have evolved over time. Presenting these recent discoveries, Ben Hoare's friendly, informative explanations are paired with stunning photographs and charming illustrations to make sure every page captivates the imagination.

Odd Animals Out is a book full of surprises, allowing you to explore the unusual stories of animals unlike any others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books

80 pages, Hardcover

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Ben Hoare is an author and editor who specializes in natural history. He has written or contributed to more than 40 reference books. His work has also appeared in BBC Wildlife and Birdwatch magazines and on BBC websites. He is a Fellow of the Zoological Society in London and presents regular talks and lectures at the Natural History Museum, London.

Reviews

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book full of unique animals that are unexpected in various ways. Some examples include penguins that live in the forest, black bears with white fur, octopuses with shells, and pigs that swim in the sea.

The facts come in bite-sized chunks that are easy for kids to digest. The pages are vibrant with bright background colors and a combination of photographs and illustrations of the animals discussed on each page.

This is a great book to read with little ones who are interested in animals and the natural world but seem to have exhausted the standard fare of children's books about animals.

*Thanks to NetGalley and DK Children for providing an early copy for review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animals are grouped together in Families, but in this book they are grouped together in different ways. Each unique aspect is a two-page spread that provides info. about each animal in a box, and all are colorfully illustrated (Typical DK).

For example, we have aspect is "All Fingers and Thumbs." There is a brief description that states, "We humans made do with four fingers and a thumb on each hand. But there are times when a different arrangement can be very - there's no better word for it - handy." The illustrations include skeletal drawings for a Brown Bear, a Giant Panda, and ...

Check out this book to learn more!

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing me and my kids poured over the pictures and facts. I love any book that helps my littles be curious about the world and this book delivered. The pictures are beautiful and vivid. The facts are fascinating and even as a late 30s adult i learned things that i didn't even know were possible or even existed. We will absolutely be looking into more books by Hoare!

[Lydia Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite animal in this book is the Livingstone’s turaco.