Farranto presents the basic mechanics of procreation, accompanied by black-and-white hatched portraits of animal pairs doing the deed. Terms including mating and sexual reproduction are defined straightforwardly (-Mating is when two animals come together to reproduce-), while photorealistic sketches against muted pastel backgrounds show various animals mid-coitus (giraffes, ladybugs, and peacocks, for example). Species differences are mentioned, like how some aqueous creatures fertilize -outside the body, in the water- and how, for marsupials, -the baby is born and then grows a little more in a pouch on the mother-s body--but some passages will require extratextual conversations, such as one about how egg fertilization can, in some cases, lead to many babies. More of an introduction to procreation than a definitive guide (though used to described the act, words such as penis and vagina go undefined), this nonfiction picture book may nevertheless help alleviate young readers- curiosity surrounding a frequently taboo topic. Ages 5-8. (June)