THE DEADLIEST

Six big cats vie for the title of “Most Fatal Feline.”

In jocular tones (“Hey, hey, you know what they say, if called by a panther, don’t anther!”), Spicer Rice profiles a slate of predatory candidates from tigers to jaguars. After describing each one’s general features and distinctive methods of attack, she picks one as the deadliest according to a “Death-O-Meter.” Though she carelessly refers to both cheetahs and snow leopards as the smallest of the big cats, her information is otherwise sketchy but sound, and in a strong running theme, she underscores the ecological importance of these apex predators. She notes that, along with big cats’ roles in culling invasive or diseased animals, they often provide significant sources of food for other creatures with their leftovers. Rightly claiming that humans are “waaaay more dangerous to big cats” than vice versa, she closes with general suggestions for protecting their threatened populations. “We have them! We need them! Let’s love them!” Temescu’s cartoon views of oblivious human victims of diverse hue being stalked and of terrified ones being chased may discomfit some readers, but his scenes of big cats chowing down on (wild animal) prey are free of visible blood or bones.

A chewy treat for young animal lovers.