Gr. 2-4 – Brief, engaging looks at some of the tiniest animals in nature. Opening chapters broadly introduce the main characteristics of the animal group. The main chapter introduces six of the smallest creatures in the class. A few sentences of text offer interesting tidbits of information. An inset fact box provides the name, length, and sometimes weight or wingspan of each animal. Large, well-chosen photographs usually show the creatures in their natural environment and highlight notable physical features. Some photos include familiar objects alongside the animal to provide useful perspective. The smallest chameleon, for example, is shown on a match head (The World’s Smallest Reptiles). A short third chapter notes the importance of small animals within the food chain. Each book concludes with a clear visual comparison of all six featured animals, aligning their lengths to that of a crayon or, for the extremely tiny insects, a tack. VERDICT: Fascinating information and strong visual appeal.