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The Canadian authors and illustrator of the Do You Know...? series have created another four nonfiction graphic novels about animals. Each double-page spread contains one or two facts about the animal and a jokey cartoon.
For example, in Do You Know Porcupines?, a female porcupine with a microphone auditions before a judge like the contestants do on American Idol. The text reads,
Porcupines emit all sorts of sounds: whines, moans, grunts, coughs, sharp cries, yelps and wails. She may look cute in her red dress, but the judge is not impressed: "Sorry little girl, I’ve heard lots of different sounds, but nothing that even remotely resembles a song. Next!"
All four books in this series end with a one-page glossary and index. Unlike some other nonfiction books in a series, these don’t follow a predictable layout (in terms of illustrations and facts). This adds interest and appeal to each book.
Do You Know Leeches? may make some readers shudder. The illustrations include blood and bloodsucking leeches attached to humans. After facts about the species, size and habitat, the authors write about how leeches are used in medicine and why they are endangered.
The rats in Do You Know Rats? don’t look appealing, either. One rat is depicted as a drunk, and many look like brutes. The drawings are meant to exaggerate the information the authors share about a rat’s appearance, intelligence, reproductive and destructive capabilities.
The animals in Do You Know Porcupines? and Do You Know Crows? are shown in a somewhat more positive light and the illustrations are not as repellent. Four species of porcupine are included in the porcupine book (Bahia, crested, North American and prehensile-tailed). Facts about their sight, teeth, claws, and quills are included, and the book ends with information about life span.
Do You Know Crows? is definitely the funniest of the four books because of the caricature-like drawings. Basic information about diet, communication, migration, and intelligence are contained within the sixty-four pages.
Reluctant readers will appreciate the short sentences and frequent illustrations in this series. Fans of gross-out books may want to try these books, too.
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