Wanted! Criminals of the Animal Kingdom - by Heather Tekavec (Hardcover)

About the Book

"What do a cuckoo who abandons her own egg and a frog who fakes his own death have in common? They're two of the most wanted creatures in the animal kingdom. In this ... nonfiction book, readers will meet 13 badly behaved creatures and the detective who's on the hunt to restore order to the animal kingdom. Each animal is wanted for a particular crime--and spitting, lying, stealing and destruction of property are just a few of the ways these creatures cause trouble"--]cProvided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Think animals are all well-behaved? Think again. These thirteen play dirty. But they're about to get caught!

A fish who deceives her prey with a light dangling in front of her mouth? A bird who leaves her eggs in another bird's nest to be raised? A monkey who shouts "Danger" to scare away the others from the fruit? Meet some of the animal kingdom's most wanted criminals! Slippery Slick, Queenie the Meanie, Lil' Cupid -- they're all here in this hilarious book of animal case files that include rap sheets, mug shots, reports of criminal activity and more. All thirteen animals stand accused of playing dirty, but now that Detective X is hot on their trail, their criminal days may soon be behind them!

Author Heather Tekavec offers an original approach to investigating animal behavior, with a fun storyline built on hardcore facts. Paired with Susan Batori's cheeky illustrations, this is a laugh-out-loud read that explores fascinating animal science. Each animal "criminal" gets a spread that's filled with facts about the animal's characteristics, including distinguishing features, diet, life span, habitat and more, as well as a description of the animal's "bad" behavior and the reason behind it. This book offers direct STEAM links to life science curriculum, particularly lessons on the characteristics of living things. The underlying premise of the book also offers the opportunity for discussions on what it means to play fair in the world.

Review Quotes

A pleaser for younger naturalists.--Kirkus Reviews

In addition to their previous felonies, the animal criminals may end up stealing readers' hearts!--Booklist Online

The book is definitely a fun read, one that is filled with engaging information.--CM Magazine

About the Author

Heather Tekavec discovered while working as a preschool teacher that children's books were a lot more fun than adult books. In addition to books, Heather enjoys writing short stories, articles and poems for children's magazines, such as CRICKET, Chirp, Highlights and Totline, and has delved a few times into writing scripts and directing live theater. Heather lives in Cloverdale, British Columbia.