The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!

by Ginjer Clarke

From anglerfish to zebras—500 awesome animal facts for kids ages 9 to 12

Frogs and foxes, scorpions and sharks—The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids has it all! This animal encyclopedia includes 500 amazing animal facts that offer hours of engaging learning. Alongside full-color pictures on every page, you’ll find weird and wonderful details about Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Amazing Amphibians, Feathered Friends, and more. This standout among animal books for kids is ideal for any boy or girl who is wild about animals!

Learn fantastic facts

Today’s golden hamsters are all descendants of a single hamster family that lived in Syria around 1930.Ant-eating ant mimicking spiders pretend to be ants by raising two of their eight legs so they look like ant antennae.A glass lizard looks like a snake, but it is actually a lizard with an extra-long tail—and no legs.

When you’re looking for kids books ages 9-12, this is the perfect choice to learn about animals—and have a whole bunch of fun!

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Animals

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2020

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The MARINE IGUANA is the only lizard that lives its whole life underwater.

Animals, animals and more animals!

If you are a curious kid (or adult, cause, let's be real, animal books are for kids of all ages), then this book is for you.

It is chock-full of absolutely wild facts.

The smallest bat - and mammal - in the world is the BUMBLEBEE BAT. It weighs less than a penny.

Facts that absolutely boggle your mind!

Today's HAMSTERS are all descendants of a single hamster family that lived in Syria around 1930

And ones that will totally make you giggle!

The SPOTTED WOBBEGONG's beard looks like seaweed. Confused prey swim right up to its mouth.

(ha! Spotted wobbegong! ).

If you want a fabulous fact book with plenty of amazing photographs, then this one is for you!

The largest butterfly is the QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S BIRDWING. Females have a wingspand of about 12 inches (30 cm)

Overall - I adored The Fascinating Animal Book!

Though, to be fair, I am a huuuuge sucker for animal books.

I literally cannot get enough of them but I really did enjoy this one in particular.

I remember being the age range for this book (ages 9-12, possibly younger if you read it with a parent) and wanting to learn everything about everything as quickly as possible. And this book is perfect for that type of kid.

Each page had multiple, vibrant photographs accompanied by many facts - about the animals on the page or about animals that fall under the same category.

The facts were fun, zany and exciting! Though I did hear some of them before, most of them were new to me.

The organization of the book is a bit different from the usual animal-fact-book.

Each section is devoted to types of animals and had several 2-page spreads based on different categories.

There's the usual like "Awesome Elephants" and "Big Cats" but there are also categories like "Noses to Know" and "Horned Heads" which are a little less strictly categorized.

As much fun as it was to see so many different animals and facts, it did seem a bit chaotic - especially with the looser categories which could have a variety of completely different species on one page spread.

So many of the facts just boggled my mind - like the one about where hamsters came from! Which sometimes left me with questions (which I ended up googling).

And I really would have wanted there to be more information but each animal only got a single sentence (or two) about them and many of them were crammed onto one page.

One thing that really enhanced the book was the photographs.

The photographs were really high quality and brought a whole new dimension to the book. They were so much fun to look at!

Part of me really wished that there was a photograph for every animal fact mentioned.

For example, the bumblebee bat from the quotes above seems almost inconceivably small (weighing less than a penny!) but there's no picture to accompany it (and so I googled, again) (it is very smol).

Overall - this book was incredibly cute and certainly delivered on its premise! Highly recommended for the curious kid in your life!

With thanks to the Callisto Publisher's Club, Rockridge Press and Ginjer Clarke for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Loved: Each page has a few sentences filled with wonderful facts! It is short enough to keep a young reader’s attention, but filled with surprising and awesome facts to keep an older reader engaged.

How I Felt:
The sections of the book are organized by types of animals. Each section is labeled in different colors making it easy to jump to different areas. The photographs in The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids are so vibrant and exciting. My kids could not stop looking at them. We just went from page to page looking at everything! The exciting facts in this book are short and to the point making it perfect for younger children. These little tidbits are so interesting though, that it would keep the attention of an older reader, or an adult!

To Read or Not To Read: I would recommend this book for any child that has an interest in animals or insects. It’s filled with fascinating facts and beautiful photos. It’s perfect for classrooms and at home. While the publisher recommendation is for ages 9-12, my 6 and 8 year absolutely loved this book. It would be enjoyed by kindergarten age and up.

I received a copy of this advanced reader’s copy for free from Callisto and Rockridge Press. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

All of my reviews can be found at: https://shejustlovesbooks.com/

[Diane Estrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures! Interesting information.

I think as soon as a child can hold a book, this book is ready to provide entertainment. You don't have to be able to read to admire the detail in the photographs and appreciate nature at its finest. Having the written facts to get to know the animals and their specific characteristics is just a bonus. Really delightful!

When you find your 17 year old son looking through the book and throwing animal trivia at you, then you know it's a winner and engaging for any age.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Callisto Publishers/Rockridge Press and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Summer Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fascinating facts were fun to read. Lots of great photos. Great book.

[Shelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely delightful. Bright, bold, and vibrant, it is filled with hundreds of full-color pictures of various animals and tons of animal facts. Its appeal will be universal. Children with the smallest interest in animals will not be able to resist flipping through its pages and I am certain parents will also enjoy it.

Each section is color-coded, making it easy for youngsters to find their favorite animals just by looking at the fore-edge of the book. It is listed for the 9-12 crowd and the facts are written with that level of reading in mind. The largish softcover book will probably work best with that age group as well. I would, however, go so far as to say that it is appropriate for any school-aged kids. With help, younger kids will enjoy learning about new animals and beginning readers will be motivated to read and learn the facts.

It would be a great addition to any private collection, and also to any classroom or homeschool library shelf. With its multicolor, multi-font text, it is perfect for silent reading time or class discussion. The facts are fun and easy to memorize and would also provide a jumping-off point for any in-depth unit study or research project about animals.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

My main issue with The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts! was the formatting. The information was all over the place, so it's hard to know where to look. I kept feeling like I was going to overlook one of the facts, since there's no order to the layout or the way it's presented. Additionally, the fonts were crazy, which I guess is supposed to entice children, but it was more obnoxious than anything else. The only consistency was how inconsistent everything was.

Despite my issues with the book's presentation, the kids really enjoyed the content. It's a lot of random facts that most people would never think to consider, and often sound too unbelievable to be true. "When two prairie dogs first meet, they lock teeth, and it looks like they're kissing." I want to know why they lock teeth, but this book doesn't explain any of its facts. If you're going to introduce a child to something new, I think you should back up your information with evidence and examples.

The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids is simple in its delivery, but effective with it's entertainment. The monsters frequently pull this book out on their own just to look at the pictures. Occasionally, they'll ask what something is, if it looks particularly interesting, but they're usually content to just look at the pages. (★★★⋆☆)

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[Conny Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The male narwhal’s long, spiral tusk is really a tooth growing out of its top lip. It has only one other tooth inside its mouth,” Ginjer L. Clarke explains in her children’s book, The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts.

~ What ~
This two-hundred-and-ten-page paperback targets children ages nine to twelve years old who enjoy books about animals and their distinct features. With no profanity or scary scenes, colorful photographs are on every page with several one to two sentences about various animals. The ending includes the author’s biography.

Divided into six chapters of Magnificient Mammals, Creepy Crawlers, Water World, Scaly Things, Amazing Amphibians, and Feathered Friends, this educational book packs tons of information on all types of animals from the quviut, cicada, and the red-lipped batfish to the reticulated python, marsupial frog, and oropendola to name a few.

~ Why ~
I love children’s books that teach young ones, especially if they are about animals and nature. I appreciate how this one not only has some of the common creatures but also the absurd, unusual, or unknown ones. With a six-year-old granddaughter who is fascinated by narwhals, it was great to see them listed in the book.

Some random wild animal facts include:
Virginia opossum babies are so small that up to 20 of them could fit into a teaspoon.
A fishing spider can stay underwater for 30 minutes while it waits for its fish prey.
Sharks never need to visit a dentist. Their teeth never get cavities.
The tuatara has a small, sightless third eye on top of its head.
The wood frog is the only frog that lives in the Arctic Circle.
Malleefowl nests can be 3.3 feet (1m) tall and 16 feet (5m) wide.

~ Why Not ~
Some children will not like that there is usually only one fact about each creature, yet sometimes there will be a full page describing several kinds in one animal family. Others may prefer less photographs and more information. The book may be too sophomoric for some fourth to seventh graders. Beginner readers may have trouble with some of the three- and four-syllable words.

~ Wish ~
Although I greatly appreciate this book that focuses on God’s creations, I wish there was an index so one could look up the animal’s fact and feature quickly. Due to its limited information per animal, it would be a hard book to use for a school report.

~ Want ~
If you are looking for a fun book about the strange and interesting characteristics of mammals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, this one would be a good option that will keep a child’s attention and offer adults insights to the amazing animal kingdom. I am sure my young grandchildren will enjoy learning a thing or two also.

Thanks to Callisto Publisher’s Club and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.

Rated 4.5 of 5 stars.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divided into chapters for mammals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, this book gives amazing facts and information about each animal. Did you know that male lions will often sleep for 20 hours a day? Did you know that fireflies can speak to each other through the patterns of flashing lights? And that the smallest bird in the world is the bee hummingbird, which is only 2 inches long?

Every page is covered with beautiful photographs of animals in the wild. Each photo is vibrant and energetic, with the action of racing predators, diving birds, or a busy ant colony.

This is such a cool book to get children interested in nature and science, and spark their curiosity about the natural world. Some of the facts are just so crazy! Like that sea otter's poop smells like herbal tea. That is so weird!

I love how the information is organized in small tidbits that make it easy to read and understand. This would be so much fun to read together with a child and discuss the strange and wondrous marvels of the world.
I recommend this book for anyone ages 6 and up. It's interesting for adults too!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy from Callisto Publisher’s Club. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

What an interesting book! You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids. I learned a lot. For example, did you know that a car could go 20 miles using the methane gas produced by one elephant’s farts in a single day? Just like the title says, it’s fascinating. Another example is that I knew that the Immortal Jellyfish can live forever. But I didn’t know that it grows to adulthood then reverts back to being a baby, over and over again.

The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids is full of gems like my two examples. It also has pictures of the animals. It’s in six color-coded chapters: Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Water World, Scaly Things, Amazing Amphibians, and Feather Friends. The only thing I noticed that would make it better is if there was an index. I only noticed that because I went to look up the jellyfish for this review, and I had to go to the Water World section and look through to find the jellyfish. It’s not a big deal but worth mentioning.

I definitely recommend The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids for all ages. It will give you hours of entertainment with interesting facts about animals of every kind.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by this publisher in return for an honest review.

Here is what I loved about his book: It is a thick book with 200 pages and is easy to hold even for smaller kids which is good since it has so many pages. Each 2 page spread has several pictures and anywhere from 3-10 animal facts printed on it. I learned so many new things reading this book, I am sure kids will learn even more. The edge of the pages are color coded for each chapter/section, which makes it easy to find the chapter you are looking for.

What I didn't love: Some of the pictures were so close up, that I had a hard time making out what it was. It seemed to strain my vision a little trying to look at the pictures and then have the distraction of the facts through out the page. This was only on a small percentage of the pages though so overall it wasn't a deal breaker. This is a book that gives you one fact per animal, so you will not get a lot of detail on any one animal, hence the name "The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids-500 Wild Facts!"

If you are looking for a fun book, to get your kid to read without realizing they are doing it and they love animals, this is the book for them or if you have a child that just loves animals, this is the book for them. But, if you are looking for a book with in-depth information on each animal, you will want to pick another book.

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Each page is a full colored photograph with some amazing animals from insects, mammals, water animals, scaly things, amphibians, feathered animals. The photographs are stunning. They just draw you into this fun and intriguing book with each page.

The book is organized by sections on the types of animals I mentioned above. Each section is color coded so you can easily flip to that section. The pages feature more than one animal. Even the text is colorful and it has different fonts & sizes throughout that make each animal grab your attention.
The words are to the point with each animal having a short sentence about some amazing facts about the creature. The book is really for all ages. The publisher says the intended age is 9-12. I feel that younger kids would enjoy this with just the photos alone. Older kids who like animals will enjoy this also. It’s very easy to read and will keep your kids attention for awhile.

This is truly a fascinating animal book.

I received a copy of this product from Callisto Publisher's in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts! "--from author Ginjer L. Clarke--is a real reader's treat for animal lovers of all ages. Every single page is filled with photos and facts, making this book an especially fun and interesting read. The sections include: "Magnificent Mammals"; "Creepy Crawlies"; "Water World"; "Scaly Things"; "Amazing Amphibians"; and "Feathered Friends". Here are a few of the fascinating facts that you'll find: "A tiger's night vision is six times better than that of a human."; "A group of meerkats is called a mob."; "A Kodiak bear can be 10 feet tall standing upright."; "In Alaska, there are more caribou than people."; "Dragonflies are the fasting flying insects at 35 miles per hour--faster than the best human runners."; "Jellyfish are 95% water and have no brain, heart, or bones,"; and "The massive Galapagos Tortoise can live more than 100 years." There's just not enough room to list all 500 amazing animal facts, so you will have to discover them yourself in the pages of this entertaining and educational book.

Book Copy Gratis Callisto Publishers

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic copy of The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts! via the publisher. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids is definitely full of fun facts that kids will enjoy reciting to everyone they know. I learned many factoids myself that were interesting, like a baby platypus is called a puggle and that a zebra's skin is black under all of those stripes.

The book is segmented in a logical fashion, entitled: Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Water World, Scaly Things, Amazing Amphibians, and Feathered Friends. The pages are colorful, displaying pictures of each animal with accompanying text that explains an interesting fact. Some pages are a little busy, as there is so much to look at that the eyes cannot take it all in at once. The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids is a reference that kids will take out and read time and time again. It shows nature in its full glory and will help children and adults alike marvel in the ingenious, cunning, and smart ways that creatures adapt to their ever changing world.

[Tom Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title states, this is a fascinating book about animals, and it’s not just for kids. The pictures are great and the blurbs about the animals, highly informative. Anyone of any generation will get great pleasure reading through this book. But most of all those of us older ones will get a kick out of sharing it with our children and grandchildren.

Break through the barrier of the backyard and the local zoo. Show the children how wonderful and amazing this world really is. Help them become enamored with all creation so as to engender a deep respect for those creatures with whom we share this planet.

The author has gathered a fantastic collection of pictures and facts about animals which most of us will never see. Clarke has opened up the world and brought it into our homes by creating this compelling collection. The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids is a book you will leaf through with your children and grandchildren over an over as they (and you) discover new realities of the natural wonders which surround us.

Upon request the publisher sent me a copy of the book to review.

[Barbara Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great For Jeopardy Contestants

by Barbara Kelley

This is one children's book that can be used to study for contestants of Jeopardy. "Jeopardy James" said he read a lot of children's books and maybe this was one of them. I learned a whole lot of stuff I didn't previously know. The only parts I skipped were the chapters on snakes, bugs, and spiders because I cannot bear to look at them. However, I learned that ostriches, even though they are really big, can fly, and that not all penguins waddle, but some of them hop. Also, I previously thought all penguins live in cold places, but found out that some species live in South Africa. I also learned that turkeys communicate differently in different countries: for example, "Gobble, Gobble" in the U. S.; "Gou, Gou" in another country; and "Cou, Cou" in a different country, among other countries that the book didn't mention. I gave this book 5 stars!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful, fact-filled exploration of the animal kingdom! 500 interesting and sometimes funny or wacky tidbits about animals from 5 different categories: Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Water World, Scaly Things, Amazing Amphibians, and Feathered Friends. The photographs are wonderful and the page layouts interesting. This is a book for animal-loving kids from a wide range age range or maybe just those readers who like to browse through books with a plethora of illustrations, just flipping and learning without worrying about reading pages in order or even finishing the book. Would make a great addition to any library’s reference section, a coffee table book in homes or a go-to during quiet times. I can’t even imagine the amount of research time it took for author Ginjer L. Clark to put together this compilation of photographs and facts!

Thanks for sending a finished copy to me, Rockridge Press!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnificent, up close, colorful pictures of amazing animals grace every page of The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids. Each picture is accompanied by a cool, weird or mesmerizing animal fact that will have you searching for more information; however not every single fact has a picture. Split up into sections such as Magnificent Mammals, Creepy Crawlies, Water World, Scaly Things, Amazing Amphibians and Feathered Friends, everyone will find something fascinating. Younger kids will enjoy the animal pictures and seeing animals that they have wondered about and independent readers will get absorbed in the cool facts. Perfect for animal lovers or school rooms.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say that I was sent this book by the publisher with the expectation that I would give an honest review of its content. This book will be a hit with any kid who loves animals. The issue that I have with the book is that there is limited information about each animal. You get a sentence per animal and that is about it. Not a whole lot of information but some amazing images. The other issue is the pages a super overwhelming with the wonderful images and the information can get lost. From the viewpoint of a kid, the book would be a kit. From the viewpoint of a parent or teacher, it lacks the information that I would want the child to get from the book.

[SOMDReigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are quick facts about many animals, some are a one-line fact. You’re not going to get in depth information for each animal but you will get interesting and not-as-well known facts. Beautiful pictures and fun facts. Children will be drawn to the pictures and the fonts used. Thick book, 200 pages, with quality paper. A good addition to any home/school/public library. Well done!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like an encyclopedia for children about all kinds of animals including insects, aquatic animals, birds, mammals, etc. The book contains fun facts and great pictures. It's important that children learn to respect and care for other animals and books are a great way to teach that lesson. The book has lots of photos so that kids can see the animals up close.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic the illustrations and pictures are amazing. This little gem is filled with information on every animal or creature listed and my grandchildren love it. I recieved this book as an ARC from Calisto Publishing and Rockridge Press for an honest review.

[Deanna Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book and my 3 year old grandkids are big fans of it. We like all the fascinating pictures. Well, all but the slithers! Something new to see and learn each time we open the book. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about animals.

[Vanessa Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how I learned so much about new animals.

I chose this rating because I learned about animals than I normally do. And I know a lot about animals. It was cool that I learned about new animals in this book.

[Brittany Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of great facts about animals! It has great pictures that grab kids attention and have them wanting to learn more! It would be great to use in the classroom for animal projects or to help students learn more about animals they love!

[Isaiah DeLeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big cats

Big cats big cat
A big cats big cats big cats. X. D g g g. I h j j j j. I j

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

500 fun, interesting, and cool facts!

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has some of my favorite animals like Komodo dragons, snakes. And creatures that I think are really cool.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what it says in the title.

[Hassaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfectly put together

I have to say the book really stands out as an encyclopedia for young kids. Rich with real pictures and brief descriptions too.

[Lynn Plourde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to give this to our grandboy for his birthday. He loves fun, odd facts and this book is overflowing with them, along with bright animal photos.