Book cover of Lovely Beasts: The Surprising Truth

Book description

A stunning debut picture book that encourages kids to look beyond first impressions by sharing unexpected details about seemingly scary wild animals like gorillas, rhinoceroses, and more.

Spiders are creepy. Porcupines are scary. Bats are ugly. Or are they...?

This captivating book invites you to learn more about awe-inspiring animals…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Lovely Beasts as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Stereotypes aren’t just for people. As a science teacher, I want my students to look beyond their initial perceptions of animals and plants, and this book helps young readers do just that.

Kate Gardner and illustrator Heidi Smith cleverly and effectively use the book’s layout (a single stereotypical word and a black-and-white illustration of an animal followed by a colorful illustration paired with facts that surprise and challenge) to encourage readers to think again.

If you love Lovely Beasts...

Book cover of The Eye of Ra

The Eye of Ra by Ben Gartner,

Gold Recipient, Mom's Choice Awards Honoring Excellence.

Silver Medal in Children's Adventure, 2020 International Readers' Favorite Awards.

Award-winning Finalist, Next Generation Book Awards.

1st Place in both Children's Adventure AND Grades 4th-6th, 2020 TopShelf Awards.

Grand Prize Winner, Colorado Author Project.

1st Place, Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Award.

Exploring…

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