Short, Sweet, and Superb! LIKE NO OTHER

 

KANE PRESS, 2024
Imprint of ASTRA BOOKS

I'm all about respecting opinions, especially when it comes to  book preferences. I often insist on that when asked to name "favorites". Especially when it comes to books, it runs counter to my values. One person's favorite could be another person's "meh", yet still be an excellent book. 

This picture book is nonfiction, causing me to raise this tiny quibble with the title's claim. LIKE NO OTHER: Earth's Coolest One-of-a-Kind Creatures is written by a reliable and engaging researcher/author, Sneed B. Collard III, and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, creator of countless classic and  brilliant nonfiction picture books. (He is the illustrator of a different recently reviewed beauty, here.)

Now back to my quibble. I have no argument with the "LIKE NO OTHER" part of their title. Collard's science is as thorough, accessible, and intriguing as it is in the many other nonfiction picture books he has authored. He opens with a chart and text spread to explain, scientifically, what the LIKE-NO-OTHER part of the title means. These are animals whose family tree includes... no others! Some you might already know, like platypus or even aye-aye. Others are delightfully unfamiliar (or they were to me) and will intrigue readers of many ages. Some have familiar names/identities (whale shark, walrus) but I had not realized that they are unique, isolates within their scientific lineage.

Each merits a double-page spread that includes brief information about the animal, followed by stunning bulleted informational nuggets and an inset with their scientific classifications and specifics. Text presents facts that are memorable, and reveals enough to both clarify questions and also invite further investigation. This is the kind of book that will have kids asking peers and adults, "Did you know...?" Neal's art on each page presents the creatures within habitats and elaborates on details visually using his colorful trademark style and appeal. Several pages of back matter are equally readable and inviting. Before that back matter comes a very special surprise species.

Back to the quibble: These featured animals are truly LIKE NO OTHER, but what about "COOLEST"? Isn't that an opinion? Can it be proven? 

I'll concede this much: the combination of fascinating, engaging text and colorful, clarifying illustrations make the case very persuasively. These just might be the "Coolest One-of-a-Kind Creatures." But in case you might have another opinion, be sure to check out the challenge map/creature pages in back. More of these examples are included, and  perhaps OTHER One-of-a-Kind animals might attract your attention. Then you can  decide to investigate them further. Maybe, as with many scientific explorations, these are simply the COOLEST that you  know, "so far".   Don't you love this invitation to  more investigation?