Lesser Spotted Animals

Lesser Spotted Animals #1

by Martin Brown

Bison? They're banned! Tigers? Taboo! Say good-bye to the gnu, cheerio to the cheetah, and peace to the panda.

The world of Lesser Spotted Animals STARTS HERE!

Find out all about the amazing animals you need to know but never get to see, from the numbat to the zorilla, and everything in between.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Picture Books, Science, Childrens, Nature, Humor

56 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2016

About the author

Martin Brown (born 1 November 1959) is an Australian cartoonist/illustrator. According to Scholastic and The Telegraph, he is best known for being the main illustrator of the Horrible Histories books. (Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Between the illustrations, excellent facts and humor throughout, this book is a winner for any age. Plus, it's fantastic for those school reports on the hard to find, unusual animals. Definitely a fun, informative read! – Jennifer K.

[Joella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! Such fun writing with facts that almost read like funny jokes scattered throughout the text. This is the type of book that you could pick up and read about one animal to a class for a book talk or an after school program...then you would have kids wanting to read the rest of the book after that. Clever. Interesting. And full of animals that most people have never heard of.

[Kristi Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

So it took me a bit to catch that the title had nothing to do with spots on the animals, rather than the frequency of spotting (seeing) them. Admittedly, I figured it out on the first page, but still. Or maybe the subtitle (The coolest creatures you've never heard of) gave it away when I finally had the book in hand. But you get the picture.

If the illustrations look familiar, maybe you are acquainted with Horrible Histories. If they look familiar and you aren't, you probably need to be. The humor is definitely geared toward older readers (thankfully) so paired with the drawings, it's a delightful book. (Another admission: I'm a high school librarian and my own children are all teens. I'm not really into cutesy book; I appreciate a bit of an edge.) And these animals have plenty of edginess. Koalas, pandas, and the typical "overexposed" are rebuffed from the outset. Meet instead the numbat, zorilla (not a zebra-gorilla hybrid), Speke's pectinator, banded linsang, gaur, and more.

You're going to like this one. And maybe you'll find your new favorite creature. Now that you've heard about it, of course.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesser spotted here refers lesser known. An engaging, informative look at fascinating, little-known critters from all seven continents.

[Kermit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It was interesting to read about some lesser known animals. The text is engaging. The illustrations and little factoids are great.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not necessarily about small, spotted animals, but about lesser-known animals that are rarely spotted in other books for children. Includes animals such as the numbat, Cuban solenodon, zorilla, Russian desman, and 17 more. Lots of snarky, funny comments, and terrific illustrations, with expressive animal faces.

[Cynthia Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of very well unknown animals is hilarious! Students will enjoy reading from this book because each of these creatures are all far from ordinary! The Cuban Solenodon is a shaggy Caribbean Insectivore with a toxic bite caused by deadly drool. Discovered in 1861, none were captured and studied until 2002! The Lesser Fairy Armadillo is a little digger in pink armor that can use its butt to block the back door of its burrow! A zorilla is akin to a skunk but its scent is far more potent than a skunk's scent. The Long-Tailed Dunnart is a marsupial mouse, it looks and acts like a mouse but is closely related to a Tasmanian Devil or kangaroo. It is a carnivore, or meat eater that are quite ferocious. It eats anything from ants to small lizards, though it resembles a mouse, it would most likely eat a mouse. These few mentioned above are a few of the twenty unusual spotted creatures who enjoy a kind of anonymity. The Onanger is a horselike animal called an "Asiatic wild ass"! Each page reveals some creature more hilarious the that on the previous pages. Students will love this book as the author's humor is not subtle! It may need some teacher/librarian introduction but will stay checked out when kids are aware of it!

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title confused me at first. I thought the animals were less-well known creatures with spots! Interesting book about animals kids don't know as well as pandas and lions--like the onager and zorilla. Fun illustrations and humorous tidbits.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Lovely pics.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

(School Library Journal) What are a numbat, a zorilla, an onager, a gaur, and a hirola? Readers learn about these unusual animals in this playfully written and witty guide to creatures unknown. Each of the subjects receives approximately two pages of treatment. Page layout is consistent and well organized, with blocks of color drawing attention to the humorous but informative text. Brown offers vivid analogies rather than precise measurements when describing animal sizes; for example, the zebra duiker is "medium dog-size—with skinny legs," while the crabeater seal is "as big as a very tall, fat man—lying down." The subjects inhabit different regions, and tiny maps, occasionally too small to distinguish, identify where they can be found. Among other details are diet and conservation status, derived from the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The light, cartoonish artwork matches the tone of the writing. Vocabulary chosen for the glossary continues the fun. Among the terms are more familiar words such as male and female and even the definition of glossary. This romp through the lesser-known animal kingdom will inspire appreciation in readers. Highly recommended as an alternative to more traditional works. In a word - Sassy!

[Oak Lawn Public Library - Youth Services · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Lesser Spotted Animals (The Coolest Creatures you’ve Never Heard Of)
Author: Martin Brown
Lexile Level: 970
Pages: 53
5 out of 5 stars

Recommendations & Comments: This book was very intriguing from start to finish. I did enjoy how the author explained each animal so vividly but also managed to not get too into detail and bore the reader. The little facts about each animal were all fun and noteworthy. The author also illustrated the entire book which is also very impressive. The illustrations were eye catching and very cute. Each animal drawn showed a lot of characteristics and had their own dialogue going. I believe this book will help young readers understand the importance of some animals and also make them more aware of animals who are facing endangerment or full on extinction. It teaches that being humans on this earth, we do need to be mindful of our environment and how we treat it as well as how we treat animals and their land. Young readers who enjoy wild life, animals, and of course in this case, animals you may not even know existed will definitely enjoy this book. It is a pretty lengthy book, but it was worth the read, and you will be engaged the entire time.

Reviewed By: Alexis F.

[Margaret]

In the early hours of yesterday morning, after finishing up a writing project, my canine companion and I took a stroll around our backyard. As we were approaching the house, she began to growl. She became more and more agitated. As a mere human, looking into the night and listening, I still had no clue as to the cause of her upset. Nevertheless, we scampered up the deck steps and into the house. After turning on the backyard lights I swirled around as her barking increased to look at one of the biggest opossums I have ever seen running across the patio tiles.

To state the obvious, if you don't see something, you really aren't aware of it sharing your living space. What can be described as upbeat, informative and completely hilarious Lesser Spotted Animals: The Coolest Creatures You've Never Heard Of (David Fickling Books, October 6, 2016, Scholastic, Inc., February 2017) written and illustrated by Martin Brown introduces us to twenty-three animals about which we rarely encounter in books. Readers will finish this title after visiting small, almost hidden, sections of land and vast areas around the globe with a greater respect for these creatures and the need to preserve and protect their habitats and lives.


My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Nice art, great intention. Some funny moments.

They're right about people caring more about the famous animals and how many fascinating species there are out there that we don't hear about.

It's just that the joke gets old. Lets actually hear about the animals, rather than insert a (kidding on the serious side) rant about similar animals that get the limelight. Maps for each species-fantastic, glossary-great, but it could really have uses either a partial bibliography or some sort of further reading section for kids who want to learn more about these animals, or about conservation.

It's a kid's book, so a warning for adult readers: Most of these species are directly endangered by human activity. You're going to be debating further WWF or sierra club donations. And despite the light handling it doesn't sugarcoat things excessively. Sensitive kids might get upset or start asking big or uncomfortable questions. I was one of those kids. I had nightmares about okapis going extinct and cried when I finally saw one in person.)

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has just become my favorite non-fiction read of the year and it is only March! Seriously, it is such a great book, full of really great detail and plenty of sassy wit. You won't want to skip a single animal, page, or snarky illustration. By the end you will want five (or more) books just like it! (Please write more, Martin Brown). Everything about this book draws you in.

The concept...animals pushed from the spotlight by their more attention-seeking, but no more attention-deserving relatives.

The illustrations...I mean can the Sand Cat look any more shifty, can the Speke's Pectinator be any more gray, can the Onager be any more sassy and ornery-looking? No, the answer is no, they can't.

Even the layout of the book...illustrations wrap from one page to next, insets add so much to more information and they are hilarious to boot. And everything works together to make it as eye-appealing as all get out!

Trust me you won't regret reading this book. And if you do...maybe reading just isn't for you. I recommend this book to literally everyone!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think some of these are just made up. But seriously folks...
The problem of charismatic fauna is recognised and discussed by environmental activists. Animals we find cute, photogenic and anthropomorphic get so the attention and the $. How can we rally people to the cause of lesser known but critically endangered animals, like the Cuban solenodon or the zorilla?
Educate children. And this book is a good start. There are many fine interesting examples here, some fasinating, like the bizarre Russian desman with it's multi-purpose nose. And I certainly wouldn't want to meet a long-tailed dunnart if I was a mouse!
There's a strange contrast of the humor with with the book is written and the bad news it has to deliver. Many of these animals are endangered, some may be extinct soon. But, as a nurse I understand gallows humor. Sometime to keep from crying the best strategy is to smile and be strong.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brown, Martin Lesser Spotted Animals: The Coolest Creatures You’ve Never Heard of 52 pgs. Scholastic, 2017. $18.99 NON-FICTION

This book features 22 lesser spotted animals, each one gets a double page with large colorful illustrations and tons of information including a map of where they live. The book set up and content is completely humorous, where students are told its time to learn about some animals that are never in the spotlight and the super star animals are all grumpy about it. The content is present with a ton of personality which makes the read incredibly interesting and fun. The illustrations are gorgeous and well crafted, enough to make me re-think my photography in non-fiction obsession.

EL(K-3), EL –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars Not quite 5 but close! This was interesting, humors, well written, well illustrated just all around good! I googled each animal after reading their pages and learned a whole lot more! This was a blast! I don't give high marks but this did it all for me! The pictures on the table on contents were HILARIOUS!
Why I can't go to 5, well two reason. 1) this is for a book award committee and I have to be really really tough on it... 2) My only complaint (and not a complaint) is that is does talk about size and the pictures don't reflect that. (I know get a life, if it is house cat sized and it looks like on the picture it is a size of a horse, it did say it was house cat sized.) I had to go to google to get a real sense of scale. Other than that very good!!
(our library doesn't own this book borrowed from another library)

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous addition to the nonfiction shelf will pull in readers - especially reluctant readers. Emergent readers will be drawn to the humorous illustrations while older readers will dive into the 2-page spreads with details about these lesser known animals from around the globe. Teachers will love the simply placed basic information, and those who are interested in a more global view will appreciate the inclusion of the status of each animal. A glossary at the end even includes an explanation of these statues ranging from "Least concern" to "Extinct." Martin Brown uses his talents to add humor that will keep readers of all ages entertained. I highly recommend this title for classroom, school and public libraries.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A survey of some of the least looked at animals on the planet. You know, the ones that never appear in any stories and always get overlooked. These are the animals that really exist and you've probably never heard of...until now. Learn where they live, what's unique about them, and what they look like.

This is a fantastic compendium of animals you've probably never heard of. I taught biological sciences for several years and I've never heard of many of these. It's the perfect read for curious kids (or adults) or anyone who likes to gather random facts. Meet a Russian desman, the zorilla, the banded linsang and more. Martin Brown introduces these lesser known critters with touches of humor and his signature illustration style. Fun, informative, and loaded with facts no one else will know.

[Amber Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a bunch of different animals and has facts about each one. Some that are included are sand cat, hirola, zebra duiker, silvery gibbon, etc. What I really like about this book is that all the animals that are in this book are animals I have never heard of before. How I would use this book is I would read about one animal at the beginning of the week, and then we would learn about that animal all week. Then at the end the students can write about which animal was their favorite and why.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be about animals with spots that are not well known, so perhaps it isn't the best title. Instead it is about 22 animals we don't hear about very often or at all. It is clever, funny and packed full of information! Great book to recommend to those students looking for a unique animal when their class does animal reports (and there is always at least one class that does animal research).

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction animal book is fun and informative. Have you ever heard of an onager or a banded linsang? These are animals rarely reported on and this book is a great way for kids and adults alike to learn about these interesting creatures. Endangered status, size, diet, habitat and curious facts are listed for each.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author uses great voice and vocabulary in describing unique animals. The book has useful graphics and would be helpful in teaching nonfiction text features. It might be good for reluctant readers because they can browse through and don't have to read in order.
I think it would be of high interest because of the unique animals chosen.

[Heather Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Illinois Reader’s Choice Bluestem nominee is fantastic nonfiction that doesn’t need to be read cover to cover. My kids and I savored it, reading about an animal, then watching a YouTube video about the animal. The conservation message throughout was awesome and my kids definitely picked up on it.

[Grace Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does introduce you to some lesser known animals. However, I prefer having a REAL picture of the animal (with drawings doing some of the "silly talking"). Also, there were a few animals included in this book that needed more information- I know they are lesser spotted, but give some move facts.
Finally, I would want the pronunciation included.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever and humorous look at a variety of animals that for one reason or another, are ignored for their more familiar counterparts. Some are threatened or endangered, others are not. All are fun to learn about.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This nonfiction books features humor to illustrate the plight of many endangered animals. each two page spread features one animal. I really liked this was relatable and had a little box on each page for quick facts about what the animals eats , where it lives and it's status. elementary and up

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of the animal kingdom will thoroughly enjoy learning about insure animals, their habitats, and unique attributes. Colorfully illustrated and humorous as well, this book will delight readers of all ages.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between the illustrations, excellent facts and humor throughout, this book is a winner for any age. Plus, it's fantastic for those school reports on the hard to find, unusual animals. Definitely a fun, informative read!

[Margaret Boling · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/27/2018 ~~ Spotlights animals which are endangered or at risk; also, animals that aren't commonly included in books about animals. I just wish it had actual photos to go with the sketches, drawings, and interesting facts.