This colorful, high-interest Versus! series (6 new titles) puts a new roster of animals to the ultimate test tting them against one another in fictional battles. Following the same format, each book contains four short chapters that introduce the battle, compare the animals' features and abilities, analyze which creature would win, and offer tips to readers wishing to help protect wildlife. While the featured animals share a common attribute, they differ wildly otherwise, leading to very entertaining (and impossible) pairings. Strength unites the challengers in Ant vs. Gorilla, which highlights gorillas' mighty hands and ants' power in large numbers. In all the volumes, colorful photos and cartoon artwork support fact-filled text, and helpful captions and creative embellishments (to depict comparative size, for instance) create more opportunities to learn. These books are ideal for the younger set as well as readers looking for simple but engaging animal books.

COPPOLINO, Marla . Beaver vs. Piranha . ISBN 9781623107291 . COPPOLINO, Marla . Jellyfish vs. Cobra . ISBN 9781623107307 . DULING, Kaitlyn . Pteranodon vs. Eagle . ISBN 9781623107314 . DULING, Kaitlyn . Pufferfish vs. Hippo . ISBN 9781623107321 . DULING, Kaitlyn . Slow Loris vs. Koala . ISBN 9781623107338 .ea vol: 24p. (Versus!). Black Rabbit / Hi Jinx . Jan. 2022. Tr $31.35. Gr 24 This animal series pairs unlikely opponents in imagined battles. Text presents each duo's physical characteristics and behaviors side-by-side, accompanied by a mish-mash of photographs and cartoons. Comparisons are not always clear: eagles and Ptreranodons are both called "serious lightweights," in Pteranodon vs. Eagle for example, but readers also learn that the reptile weighs four times as much as the bird. The eventual "battle" repeats a few key facts about each combatant, but stops short of naming the likely winner. Readers usually do not learn where the animals live (except in Jellyfish vs. Cobra ) or whether or not they might actually meet and fight in the wild. The visual presentation combines photographs of varied quality along with cartoon creatures that often react to or interact with the photo images. These match the text's playful tone, but create a disjointed visual presentation. VERDICT Inconsistent text and visuals limit appeal.