In contrast to human babies, many newborn animals are capable of independent behavior shortly after birth. A range of newborn abilities is exemplified by animals as diverse as a kiwi ("As soon as I hatched, I was ready to take care of myself"), a wood duck ("On my first day, I jumped out of my nest ... fell a long, long way ... and paddled after my mother), and a manatee ("When I was just an hour old I was able to swim-and breathe-on my own"). While some of the creatures fend for themselves from the beginning, others, including polar bears, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and sea otters, require a parent's care. Masterful collage illustrations and a brief, engaging text are well-suited for young naturalists, and a final section offers a paragraph of additional information about each of the twenty-two species highlighted. (Ages 2-5)

The first day of life is different for every animal. Human newborns don't do much at all, but some animals hit the ground running. The Caldecott Honor-winning team Steve Jenkins and Robin Page apply their considerable talents to revealing how twenty two different species, from the emperor penguin to the Siberian tiger, adapt to that traumatic first few hours of life, with or without parental help. Jenkins's vividly colorful cut-paper illustrations are eye-poppingly three-dimensional and as exquisite as ever. While the text is short and sweet, an illustrated guide provides descriptions of the twenty two animals in the back. Fantastic!