Hidden Planet: Secrets of the Animal Kingdom

Hidden Planet: Secrets of the Animal Kingdom reveals the miraculous ways creatures in the animal kingdom remain hidden out of sight and danger. For example, satanic leaf-tailed geckos blend in perfectly with the dead leaves they hide in as they hunt their prey, and chameleons conceal themselves by camouflaging to match their surrounding environments. They also have tongues that are up to twice as long as their body lengths and are covered in saliva four hundred times stickier than human saliva, all the while remaining hidden from view until tasty treats arise. A plethora of other amazing facts about concealment in the wild can be found in this giant-sized book.

This is a notable piece of non-fiction literature for children ages nine and up; it’s inclusive and intriguing. The author does a remarkable job illuminating the symbiotic nature of relationships among species as well as the ability of creatures to adapt and change in a world that is often unpredictable and threatening. He delineates commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism and how these are presented in nature as well as some of the unexpected and often unknown bloodlines that exist among wildlife. His descriptions are easily comprehensible, and the illustrations are plentiful, life-like, and truly eye-catching.