My Axolotl Life

Description: This nonfiction picture book follows a Wild Type axolotl through a day in its life, showcasing what it eats, how it stays safe, and many other facts about its life.

Brief description: FB Smit is an author, blogger, and a preschool teacher. When she's not engaging with the littles at school, she's incubating her real and made-up stories. She's grateful for her husband and children who teach her about life and who thicken her stories' plots. At home near Atlanta, Georgia, she does her best to avoid buying more houseplants and drinking way too much tea.

Review Quotes: Unlike most amphibians, "We axolotls keep our cute . . . as we age," boasts the wild axolotl narrator of this educational picture book. This inviting selection from the Animal Perspectives series (4 titles) focuses on the life and behavior of wild axolotls, a critically endangered species. In a conversational tone, the narrator shares various facts about its biology and environment; for example, when discussing why axolotls prefer to live alone, the narrator says, "This is awkward for me to tell you, but axolotls eat other axolotls." The concepts of regeneration and neoteny are explained in accessible language, while the muted cartoon illustrations also support overall comprehension. The engaging narrative concludes with "Awesome Axolotl Facts" and a glossary, making this a perfect choice for animal fans at elementary schools and public libraries.--Julie Goldschmied "Booklist"