“When ostrich runs / on two-toed legs, / he speeds across / the grass. / But stretching out / his puny wings, / it’s up, UP, and— / alas!” (from “Ostrich”). Playful poems introduce animals, birds, and reptiles unique to various parts of the world. Amy Gibson’s poems manage to be both informative and silly, using humor to convey one or two distinguishing facts about each subject. Daniel Salmieri’s amusing illustrations are well-matched to Gibson’s words. The poems are organized by continent, with a “Menagerie of Facts” at volume’s end providing a pronunciation guide and a few more intriguing details about each creature. (Ages 4–8)