Comment

Dec 04, 2013
Such a sad-sounding title for a children’s book! If it conjures up visions of homeless, sad-eyed puppies and kittens, be reassured. The “animals nobody loves” do have homes. Instead, think of some of the least endearing and most dangerous creatures on our planet – ferocious man-eating crocodiles, great white sharks, cobras, deadly black widow spiders, fire ants, piranhas and Gila monsters. Think also of pests such as cockroaches, and predatory creatures such as vultures and hyenas. These are the “animals nobody loves”. Some of these creatures have some very surprising abilities and characteristics. For example, did you know that a small piranha can be more deadly than a shark, or that the bite of a Gila monster is as dangerous as that of a rattlesnake? Did you know that fire ants have a poison that can paralyze not only other insects but also squirrels, chickens and other small animals ... that some crocodiles are as much as eight metres in length... and that a headless cockroach can live for as long as a week? Yuck! What is the author’s purpose in creating this book (complete with many incredible close-up colour photos)? It’s to help readers better know and understand these animals, flaws and all. Each creature has a purpose in nature and is a part of our planet’s biodiversity. Each is “programmed” to do what is necessary for it to survive, and each creature is intriguing in its own way. And, although we may never “love” these creatures, they do deserve our respect.