This book is filled with weird and amazing facts that you've never heard before. Read about the dinosaur that used camouflage, wonder at the penguins that 'propose' to each other with rocks and tell your friends that the dodo was actually quite smart!

Scientists found that cockatoos in Australia make their own drumsticks and their own music. Each bird plays it's own different rhythm at its own different speed to attract a mate.

Scientists in Tokyo have trained pigeons to distinguish between art style. They can tell the difference between works by Picasso and Monet.

There are facts about sharks that listen to Death Metal, the amazing amount a hummingbird needs to eat, and strange creatures such as the 'ghost' octopus.

James Olstein beautifully illustrates these odd facts in a retro-inspired, quirky style. His designs aren't meant to be taken literally, but you'll laugh-out-load when you see a spider relaxing on a pool float and dinosaurs playing with a ball!

Prepare to laugh, marvel and learn.

Being a geek has never been so cool.

About the Author

James Olstein is an illustrator living in Philadelphia. He has illustrated for the BBC, Bob's Burgers, Monocle Magazine, Mental Floss, Scientific America, Sierra Magazine, economia, the Boston Globe and the National Constitution Centre. He has displayed his work at Spoke Gallery NYC, Galleries 1988 and Philadelphia Independents.

He runs a successful blog called Illustrated Science, that has been featured in The Verge and Geekadelphia.

Reviews

'An extremely accessible and entertaining read. There are so many fascinating and intriguing facts here that this is a book you will return to time and time again!'

* North Somerset Teachers' Book Award *

'An amazing picture book full of the most fascinating creatures that have roamed the planet ... Proof that science can be both fun and funny!'

* Lancashire Post *

'A lovely book to browse through, enhanced by James Olstein's quirky illustrations that cleverly highlight the weird facts.'

* Parents in Touch *

'Children will marvel, laugh and learn from all the amazing and weird facts about the animal world packed into this small handy hardback... illustrated with an amusing and quirky retro style. A fascinating compilation of wonderment.'

* South Wales Evening Post *

'This is an absolute treat for animal fans... diminutive but fact-filled little book of awesomeness. Loved the presentation too with really nice clear text and simple graphical illustrations accompanying. Utterly brill!'

* Read it Daddy *

'The rich vocabulary lends itself perfectly to learning and understanding more about animals and creatures in our world...The illustrations are wonderfully quirky and brilliant for studying...The colours and design take this from being an ordinary non fiction animal book to being one of extraordinary proportions.'

* My Shelves are Full *



Book Information
ISBN 9781843654025
Author James Olstein
Format Hardback
Page Count 80
Imprint Pavilion Children's Books
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 499g
Dimensions(mm) 220mm * 220mm * 13mm