AN ANIMAL A DAY

This companion volume to Smith’s A Dinosaur a Day (2024) presents one extant animal species per day through illustrations, fast facts, and short informational paragraphs.

Despite the subtitle, the book covers a full leap year and includes 366 vertebrates and invertebrates from all over the world. Each spread includes vignettes showing the animal in its habitat. The fact lists cover the scientific name, animal group (such as reptile, fish, or bird), length and weight in metric measurements, diet, location, and conservation status. An explanation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s rating system appears on an early spread that also loosely defines the animal groups. At the end of the work, two spreads provide examples of animals that are currently endangered as well as conservation success stories, all of which appear earlier in the book. Twice each month, Smith groups animals according to a theme: sometimes by habitat, sometimes by habits. The attractive, engaging full-color illustrations are reasonably realistic and clearly recognizable. January 1 shows a polar bear mother and two cubs walking across ice floes. On the last day of the year, an Asian elephant adult and child stroll through the jungle. Readers will be drawn to the varied examples of both familiar and less common species. The text concludes with a quiz and puzzles (which are not too difficult), a glossary, and an index, but no sources or suggestions for further research.

A treat for young animal lovers.