The Deadliest Creature in the World

Guiberson and Spirin return to the setup of The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea and The Greatest Dinosaur Ever as 14 animals make the case for why they deserve the honor described in the title. Among the entrants are the malaria-spreading anopheles mosquito (“Do you breathe? Do you move? Then I can detect you”), black mamba (“Even when I am dead, my venom can kill”), and ostrich (“I can kill a lion, hyena, or human with my powerful, swift kick”). The animals’ pitches are perfectly tuned to fascinate (and frighten), and Spirin’s characteristically rich and detailed artwork doesn’t shy from showing these predators doing what they do best. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)