Capybara : A First Field Guide to the Biggest Rodent in the World

Young Zoologist

by Julia Mata, Greco Westermann (Illustrator)

An illustrated first guide to cute capybaras from expert Dr. Julia Mata, featuring illustrations by Greco Westermann.

You might know that capybaras are totally adorable and are related to guinea pigs, but there’s so much more to learn about these cuddly creatures! Discover how capybaras are perfectly adapted to swimming, why they like birds riding on their backs, and what makes them eat their own poop! You’ll also discover what it takes to become a capybara zoologist.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Stem, Animals, Audiobook

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Dr. Julia Mata is an Argentine ecologist with a background in conservation and rewilding. Julia started working with capybaras in 2017 during her PhD and has loved them ever since! She spent countless hours with capybaras in the Iberá wetlands in Argentina while collecting data on their impact on the ecosystem. She currently works for Rewilding Europe and previously worked on Neon Squid’s book Rewilding.

Reviews

[Sol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was so cute! Such a stylish nonfiction book, with gorgeous illustrations that I was very impressed by! It was so charming. I think any kid or adult would love this. My favorite part, that I think I would have loved when I was a kid, is that there's a "Before You Get Started" (looking for capybaras in their natural habitat) page that details all the gear you'll need for your capybara observations. I love that type of thing, it feels so adventurous. I definitely want to read more books in this series because they're so charming.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Capybara (Young Zoologist): A First Field Guide to the Biggest Rodent in the World" by Neon Squid and Dr. Julia Mata is children's nonfiction.

I listened to the audiobook version of this narrated by Catherine Ho. Her narration is excellent. Unfortunately, some of the background music in this near the beginning is so busy and circus-like that it is quite distracting. (-1 ⭐️)

The Young Zoologist books all follow a similar format that works well. It starts with the fact file. Capybaras are mammals, and they are rodents. They are like huge
mice with no tails. Adult capybaras are each about 110 lbs. They have long fur that is reddish to brown.

Next, they tell you what you need to pack to study them. Then it tells you what capybaras are related to, such as guinea pigs, chinchillas, and nutria.

They they cover habitat and diet and mating info. Capybaras live in South America east of the Andes Mountains, so in every country except Chile in South America. They live in large groups of 5-20 in savannahs and in small packs of 2-4 in forests. They are also semi-aquatic and spend a lot of time swimming. They eat grasses and swamp vegetation.

Then there is some info about their predators and their friends. Jaguars are their worst predators. Birds are their friends, and some birds hang out on the backs of capybaras.

It is a very good book about capybaras. It is probably better to read this as a book than listen to it as an audiobook of that is an option. Plus. they're a really cute animal. I saw one at Disney's Discovery Island back in the early 90s. I was fascinated!!

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, MacMillan Young Listeners, Neon Squid, and Dr. Julia Mata for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series, I love capybaras, but this one was hard to get through - might've just been an off week for us.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Neon Squid, Dr. Julia Mata, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.

This audiobook is narrated by Catherine Ho. Ms. Ho's voice is sweet and engaging, drawing the listener right in. This high quality audio production includes a light musical soundtrack that enhances the narration.

This is a fun way to introduce grade school age children to capybara's and rodents in general. This is a charming yet thorough, introduction to these adorable animals. This explains where they can be found, life span, how they look, their size, what they eat, their life cycle, their predators, how they socialize with each other and how they impact the environments they inhabit.

Thank you to Neon Squid, Dr. Julia Mata, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Aquila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to Capybara (Young Zoologist): A First Field Guide to the Biggest Rodent in the World by Dr. Julia Mata in exchange for my honest feedback.

Going into this book, I knew very little about capybaras. I knew they were the largest rodent in the world, but that's about it.

This book taught me SO MUCH! I learned that they are so large they're 5,000 times bigger than the smallest rodent! I learned about their diet, their weight (about two 8 year old children), their habitats, their relatives (chinchillas were my favorite), and much, much more.

Dr. Julia Mata also teaches us about their life cycle, mating, pregnancy, the way they share responsibilities, predators, and animals they have mutually beneficial relationships with.

Young or old, if you have any interest in these fascinating creatures, you've got some exciting things to learn from this awesome little book.

[Jenna Millican · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for my niece because we both love capybaras but as I was looking through it, I ended up reading it 😂 A very cute and informative book.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been listening to fiction audiobooks with the children I nanny (4 and 2.5 years old) during car rides. This was their first nonfiction audiobook. They loved Capybara and immediately asked if I had anymore from this series. This was a winner. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this copy.

[Karm Barter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was adorable and informative. Im 42 and learned some things. I chuckled like a preschooler at some parts. Will def recommend this to everyone.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I love this series, short but filled with facts and tips, great for a classroom moment to introduce the major facts about the largest rodent on the planet. I love this series.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes nonfiction kids books don't translate well to audiobook but this one was very well done! My 7yo (who is absolutely obsessed with animals and the natural world!) loved this one! There's plenty of facts about capybara but there's also a lot of info about other animals and how they relate to capybara (like other animals that have a relationship with birds etc).

The 20 minute audiobook length is absolutely perfect to listen to in the car and we were able to finish it during one trip running errands. The narrator is dynamic enough to hold interest and there are lots of sound effects (mostly nature sounds) that correspond to what is being read.

Definitely recommend for kids who are fans of Wild Kratts or who love learning about different animals. Great conversation sparker and fun learning!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids love the Young Zoologist books, so we were excited to preview the new audiobook, Capybara. Similar in format to the print books, there is lots of information presented in the audiobook. The narration performance was engaging without being obnoxious, which is such a fine line that not all audio content at kids manages to get right. My kids particularly enjoyed the variety of fun facts (there was a good one about poop!), but some of the specific measurements were hard to follow in audio format. Overall, we really enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series, both in audio and print.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for gifting my family with an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book introduction to capybara, their characteristics, life cycles, and ecosystems.

This is succinct but still feels fairly detailed. It’s highly informative and presented in an engaging way. There’s main text at the top of the page with more info in text blocks below so younger readers could just read the main text while older readers can dive into all the details.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: It talks about life cycles and briefly mentions mating but no details.
Violence: Predators capybara are eaten by are mentioned.
Ethnic diversity: The scientist in the illustrations is a woman of color (I assume South American).
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: None

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Young Zoologist series that I've read/listened to and it's FANTASTIC!!! The narrator is wonderful, she really holds your attention and is very easy to listen to. I enjoyed the way the book was broken down into sections of what the animal's life is like and I appreciate that the author doesn't leave out facts about the dangers capybaras face as well. I learned a lot of interesting facts and, as someone who works in a library, I know so many kids that will love this series so I can't wait to recommend it!! The age range is, I would say, between 3-8 years old, depending on the child.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this audiobook!!

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I requested this book for my daughter but after our fail of the first one we listened to I decided to just listen to this by myself. I did listen to it on 2x speed and it was still easy to listen and understand. The one thing that stuck out to me was I had no clue they could weigh 110lbs. And really everything else we were taught. I enjoyed this educational read. The narrator was easy to listen to. I would recommend this read to probably middle grade listeners.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. There was so much great information given. It would be best if you can look through the physical or ebook and listen to the audiobook. The narrator did a great job. We learned new things even though we have learned about Capybara before. My kids enjoyed listening to it.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in advance.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: 5 ⭐
Narration: 5 ⭐

My kiddos loved this book. I have a 10 y/o and a 6 y/o and they both shouted after it was completed "5 STARS!!" out of the mouth of babes. lol

The narration was really well done. You had music and sound effect that really immerse you into this book. If you have kids that love science, especially involving animals. They will love this.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable — I listened to it twice. I love this educational and funny field guide to capybaras.
Production for this audiobook is amazing.

I didn’t know these Young Zoologist books existed before I saw this ARC on NetGalley and now I need to collect them all for my son’s library.


I listened to the audiobook but don't see it listed as an available addition at this time

[Breanne ~ The Literary Life of Beans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and NeonSquid for the audio ARC of this book.

4.5stars
I really enjoyed this little nonfiction book. My kids would love to own the physical copy of it. While I loved the narrator and the musical effects added, I do think the audio is lacking a little due to the loss of the pictures and illustrations in the original book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read to listen to with my son. It was full of interesting facts about capybaras. We both learned a lot, and I imagine we will listen to it many times.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved this little audiobook all about the adorable large rodents- capybara. The details were described in great detail so I could see the animal and hear it's sounds. I learned a lot.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first guide to cute capybaras from expert Dr. Julia Mata.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for sending me an audio ARC of this book! I enjoyed reading this book. I think Capybaras are so cute. I learned a lot about them from reading this book.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With capybaras being one of the most recent viral animals around, young readers will enjoy reading this book to learn more about them. As with all the other books in this Young Zoologist series, it is written by an expert who has studied and has much experience with the highlighted animal.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young zoologist books are so good! My 7 year old daughter loves them as well.

[Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book and has cute drawings

[Magen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s fine I just didn’t know they ate their own poop.

Loving these young zoologist books so much!

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of information for curious children is found within the covers of this book. Illustrations are bright and colorful.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information without overwhelming you. if you have a kid obsessed with capybaras, this book would be the perfect read.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for reports or recreational reading about a mammal in the rodent family, living in South America. The fact boxes, diagrams, colorful illustrations, glossary and index will help a reader understand this interesting creature. Highly recommended for grades 4-6.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful fun early readers book about capybaras! One of my favourite animals~


I already loved my newest library #4 A LOT, because they have a good amount of English books, several manga, and comics books, but they are also adding non-fiction to the list! Including this adorable looking book about Capybaras! I just had to bring this one along when I spotted it there.

In this early reader book we learn all about capybaras. You know, the biggest rodent that walks this gorgeous earth of ours. Each theme/category is a two page spread featuring wonderful illustrations of the animal. We get to meet the capybara (hello!), find out about the mating habits and how the young are raised, how old these capys get (4-10 years), their closest relatives that live near them(nutrias and agoutis), and so much more. Each bit of information was all just 100% fun, the writing style is engaging and makes you want to read more and more (seriously, can adult non-fiction also be a bit less dry and a bit more fun like kids non-fiction?). It was a delight to flip the pages and see what is on the next page. Yes, there is an index, but I generally don’t look at those, haha. A lot of the information wasn’t new for me, an adult, but for a kid this will be a perfect introduction to the animal and its habitats.

The illustrations, OMG, they were just the cutest and so pretty, I loved them. Sometimes I just stuck around on the pages for a bit longer just to see the illustrations more.

I see that there are more books in the series and I hope that Library #4 is going to add them and future books. And I would highly recommend this delightful and fun book to everyone.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading both Axolotl and Capybara I immediately went to my library and tried to get as many of these audiobooks as I could. This series has a lot of interesting facts and I think my middle schoolers would have loved these. I am learning so much. I never thought about capybaras and guinea pigs being related.

5 stars