Tarantula vs. Scorpion
From the Set Animal Showdowns
The Goliath birdeater tarantula, the world's biggest spider, is pitted against its mighty arachnid cousin, the emperor scorpion, at more than five times its weight. Both are fierce predators, hunting insects as well as mice, lizards, and snakes. Both hiss to warn predators away. Both can defend themselves with fangs and claws, as well as venomous stingers. It is a fierce battle. Who will survive?
SLJ Review of Animal Showdowns
Gr. 3-5 – This new entry in the field of animal battle books takes readers through ten rounds of an imagined fight, supported by interesting facts and solid visuals. Lively present-tense narration describes each stage of the conflict, with points awarded for each section and a running total throughout. Most animal facts are related to predation and defense, with some additional information noted in fact boxes. Some of these pairs could actually meet in the wild; this is usually, but not always, stated clearly in the text. Photographs of combatants highlight features and behaviors related to the fight, such as the zebra’s kick (Giraffe vs. Zebra) and the tiger shark’s teeth (Leopard Seal vs. Tiger Shark). Most show only one of the animals, though staged images in Scorpion vs. Tarantula and an actual photo of two foxes fighting in Arctic Fox vs. Red Fox are particularly satisfying. VERDICT: Strong additions to this popular sub-section of animal books.