Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet (by David McLimans)

Just going on its illustrations, GONE WILD is an inventive gem. Animal characteristics creep and crawl out of big block letters: The floppy ears, snouts, long necks, and wild eyes belong to endangered animals starting with every letter of the alphabet. But sit down with this book with any kid learning their ABCs, and you'll end up having to explain why some animals have dwindling habitats or are overfished or hunted to near-extinction.

Another minus is that many of the featured animals are rare and unfamiliar. While older kids may find the odd ducks and insects novel, younger ones probably would prefer critters they're used to -- and illustrations that feature cuddly faces. It's not surprising that this is the author's first children's book. This could be a good choice for tweens who love art class or are involved in their school's environmental activities.