STRANGE CREATURES
by David Peters & illustrated by David Peters
A gallery of bizarre denizens, past and present, with vibrantly colorful illustrations and intriguing facts. Scale is suggested by contemporary multiracial children, who cavort with the other species. Young browsers will yearn for the time of the miniature elephant or the giant shaggy unicorn, and marvel at an extinct crocodilian that shook its prey to death or contemporary deep-sea creatures like the tripod fish, which walks the ocean floor on its sensitive fin rays. Peters—a compelling storyteller and an imaginative illustrator—rarely gives size, range, or complete scientific names, making some of the information hard to verify, but, still, this is fascinating fodder for science fans and SF buffs. Index. (Nonfiction. 10-12)