This colourful, informative book shows the keys to survival for a number of creatures big and small. Readers are introduced to a variety of self-defence mechanisms animals use: changing colour to blend in with surroundings; pretending to look like another, more dangerous animal; banding together with other animals; sending out warnings; and playing tricks to confuse the predator. Some of the animals highlighted in the book include toads, three-toed sloths, prairie dogs, chuckwallas, beavers, viceroy butterflies, king snakes, ladybugs, dolphins, clown fish, and more. (A helpful index of animals guides young researchers to the appropriate page.)

The text, by teacher and author Etta Kaner (Balloon Science, and Bridges, Towers and Tunnels) is very reader-friendly, obviously written with new readers in mind. More difficult concepts, such as symbiosis, are explained simply yet accurately, and the writing is accessible but not flat. The realistic, detailed illustrations by seasoned wildlife artist Pat Stephens (Bears, Whales, Animal Senses) bring the descriptions to life, showing the habitat as well as the animal. The layout is varied. Some pages feature one animal and contain a large illustration with a paragraph of text; others show three animals and contain more text. This variety will be appreciated by new readers, for whom a lot of text page after page can be overwhelming.

Children may enjoy this book in different ways: reading to themselves, being read to by a parent or teacher, or researching one animal at a time. While the publisher suggests the book for ages seven and up, children as young as age four may enjoy looking at the pictures and hearing chunks of it read aloud.