Animals Eat the Weirdest Things [Hardcover]

Diane Swanson (Author), Terry Smith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1998

Some of the most intriguing elements of survival in the animal kingdom are the unusual--and occasionally downright bizarre--eating habits that animals have developed. One animal's leftovers or excretions may be a great source of nutrition for another. For instance, porcupines feed on deer antlers to obtain calcium; Dungeness crabs will often eat their own offspring to replenish essential proteins; vampire bats must lap up half their body weight in blood each night in order to stay healthy. Mammals, birds, and insects have adapted to their environments by eating some very surprising foods--all the while making excellent use of what nature has to offer.

Filled with intriguing facts, this innovative picture book explores animal diet and cuisine with just the right mix of intelligence and humor.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-There's enough unappetizing fare here to satisfy any young reader's taste for the gruesome and grotesque. Bizarre eating habits and diets of the animal world-from the microscopic to the gargantuan-are presented with great gusto and epicurean detail. With humor and panache, the author has organized chapters into special menus-cast-off body parts, excrement, flesh, cannibalistic, and, on a much tamer note, manmade objects. Color illustrations and highlighted informational boxes provide additional tasty tidbits. The readable, entertaining, and informative text is in a very digestible format. The nutritive value of these exotic cuisines and the importance of nature's garbage collectors and various symbiotic relationships are also stressed. Definitely not for those preferring a meat-and-potatoes diet.
Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-6. Given such chapter titles as "Ooze, Vomit and Dung," kids might not want to read this on a full stomach. That aside, however, this solid blend of fascinating information and clear scientific explanation will be a fine purchase. Swanson's well-organized, smoothly flowing text covers the eating habits of animals--from scavenging carrion and cannibalism to sucking blood and chewing wood. Brightly colored paintings showing the creatures munching add interest without the overdose of grossness photographs would have brought. Sidebars and boxed information appear on most pages, providing extra appeal to reluctant readers who might not want to tackle large expanses of text. A great choice for booktalks in school, as long as the presentation isn't scheduled right after lunch. Susan Dove Lempke

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 68 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (November 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080505846X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805058468
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,768,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, funny,intelligent & intriguing!, June 29, 2001

By 

Music-wife "Bluebird House Dweller" (TX, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animals Eat the Weirdest Things (Hardcover)

This book draws you right in, from the cover to the end. It is full of all the amazing parts of survival in the animal kingdom

This book barely made it in my front door, before my children had to look it over, and all the while, learning all sorts of information. The photographs and drawings are large and beautiful, bringing out sounds of "ughhhh" and "oooooh". This book is really quite unique and informative.