The Kingfisher First Encyclopedia

The self-consciously wacky Crazy Creature Concepts series of paper-over-board books by Hannah Reidy, illus. by Clare Mackie, turns cartwheels to make learning visually amusing. In Crazy Creature Contrasts, a menagerie of critters, sporting an assortment of bizarre physical traits like curlicue tails, skinny striped legs and silly grins, demonstrates opposites. And a band of the egg-shaped creatures strap skates onto their skinny feet, whizzing up, down, under and through, to teach prepositions in Crazy Creature Capers. More concepts are forthcoming. (DeAgostini [Stewart, Tabori & Chang, dist.], $6.95 each 26p ages 3-up ISBN 1-899883-44-4; -45-2; Sept.)