Here is an almanac of 600 of the world's animals including some that are already extinct. Barman presents them as “the greatest show on Earth.” The book is individualized by its practical and whimsical groupings of animals including the architects, the faithful, the mythical, the vanished, the poisonous, the pretty-in-pinks with lines of descriptive text woven into the illustration.

2016 Outstanding International Book, United States Board on Books for Young People.

Author lives in Switzerland.

Switzerland. Originally published in French as Drole d'encyclopédie by Editions La Joie de Lire in 2013. English translation by none named published in the United States by Quarto/Wide Eyed Editions in 2015.

 Welcome to this collection of best-loved animals from all over the world, chosen for their special talents and characteristics, with fun illustrations by Adrienne Barman. Meet 'the architects', the 'noisy neighbours', the 'homebodies', the 'forever faithfuls', the 'champions of forgetfulness' and more in this alphabetically ordered encyclopedia. Filled with fascinating facts, curious creatures and characterful cartoons, this book will keep young explorers busy for hours.