Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Why Do Tigers Have Whiskers? (ed by Sunanda Creagh, Thames & Hudson)

Curated from the Curious Kids section of the academic-authored news website The Conversation, this book is compiled as a series of questions provided by kids and answered by a range of Australian wildlife experts. There are only six questions in the book but they are intriguing queries, such as ‘Do butterflies remember being caterpillars?’ and ‘Is it true that dogs don’t like to travel?’ The book includes a glossary and biographies of each contributor, and is heavily illustrated by Clare Celeste in a hyperreal collage style, incorporating photographs and illustrations. Answers to the questions are well written, easy to follow and provide lots of information in a fascinating way. There is a good amount of space on the page, which can be helpful for younger ages and for those who feel overwhelmed by lots of breakout boxes and text-heavy nonfiction books. However, this book seems a little slim in terms of the amount of content and I would have liked more questions and answers. Why Do Tigers Have Whiskers?  is the first in an intended series for kids aged 4–7. It will be interesting to see how it fares as the series continues, and whether it can stand out in a market crowded with nonfiction books for kids.

Angela Crocombe is the manager of Readings Kids.

 

Category: Junior Reviews