Wanted! Criminals of the Animal Kingdom

Agent X is a polar bear detective reviewing a stack of case files belonging to animal “criminals.” In each file, he finds a short description of the animal’s villainous behavior, as well as a rap sheet listing, among other things, known aliases, sightings, and gang name. In a creative, clever mixing of fact and fun, these items serve as placeholders for scientific facts about the animals. Under aliases, for example, are listed the various names by which the animal is known, including its scientific name. Under gang name is listed the animal’s collective name, like a cast of crabs. The criminal acts of the animals are humorously described, which are actually fascinating facts about the animal’s unique survival instincts. For example, the “Big Bad Mama” cuckoo bird lays her eggs in other birds’ nests, while the “Copy Cat” predator margay cat pretends to be a monkey to lure food. Tekavec does a remarkable job of infusing scientific data with clever fun to make the information stickier than the typical fact sheet, while Batori’s illustrations add to the humor, especially with her presentation of the various animals’ in their criminal mugshots. As the book is carried less by story and more with humor, it’s best suited to be enjoyed and studied by stronger readers who enjoy animals.