Wild Animals

Big, arresting color photo silhouettes dominate the pages of these four Big Picture Paperback books from a Dorling Kindersley imprint. Arcs of boldface type introduce the images, mostly posing questions (``Can a bloodhound smile?''), but sometimes simply commenting (the phrase ``Have a nice drive!'' haloes the glamorous baby-blue vintage Cadillac shown in Things on Wheels ) . Captions, set in smaller type, provide additional information, although it's frustrating that only general identifications are supplied (what kind of owls, what type of fish are seen here?). Along with numerous beguiling photos of uncommonly expressive rabbits, kittens and puppies, Antics and Faces feature exotics, such as the orangutan, the horned toad and the aptly-named porcupine fish, while Wild Animals rounds up undomesticated creatures. Wheels , by contrast, presents an assortment of vehicles, including tandem bicycles, a covered wagon and a pair of racing cars, all of which look almost animated, thanks to the snappy styling. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)