What Makes a Monster? Discovering the World’s Scariest Creatures

Keating, whose Pink Is for Blobfish celebrated rosy-hued creatures, introduces more than a dozen animals (and one fungus) that have the makings of real-life monsters. With such names as the horror frog, assassin bug, and goblin shark—all shown in dramatic photographs—it’s no wonder their reputations aren’t stellar. Even a few cute animals have unsavory habits: “Along with carrying deadly diseases, female prairie dogs are known to commit infanticide, killing babies of other prairie dog mothers.” Amid the gory details, Keating clearly emphasizes how survival instincts drive behaviors while providing a solid overview of each creature’s biological background. The inclusion of humans in the final entry adds another thought-provoking layer to the question posed by the title. Ages 6–9. Author’s agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. (Aug.)