Deadliest! Twenty Dangerous Animals

Reviewed by: Sarah Cropley - Scarborough Public Library, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 15, 2018

Review

Steven Jenkins returns with a series of books aimed at young readers. Despite having Jenkins' signature vivid illustrations and many interesting facts, this book is not recommended. Readers are designed to have specific features to meet the needs and support the learning of those just beginning to read. Deadliest! reads like a book that was simply shrunk down to fit a reader size. The text is small, and the language is difficult. Highlighted words in reader books often lead to a glossary or special definition. Though there is a glossary, Jenkins seems to choose some words at near random instead of meaningfully supporting the text. The features are not well laid out for a book of this dimension. Overall, Deadliest feels like an attempt to shoehorn a technique that worked with full sized books into a new market.

Overall Book Score: fair