This fascinating look at thirteen unusual animals, many of them rare or endangered, introduces the remarkable world of monotypic animals—those without any close relatives.

One-of-a-kind animals can be as familiar as the platypus or as unfamiliar as the purple frog. These fascinating and mysterious species belong to an exclusive club of living things: those with no close living relatives, making them monotypic species. Meet more than a dozen of these creatures (including humans!), learn what makes them unique, and explore the relationships among species on the evolutionary tree. Written by NCTE Orbis Pictus award-winning author Sneed B. Collard III, this fascinating nonfiction picture book is ideal for kids, teachers, and librarians and includes extensive back matter and activities.

Story Locale: Global: features animals from around the world, including the USA.
 
Contributor Bio(s)
 
Sneed B. Collard III is the author of more than eighty-five books for children and young people. His Beaks! title (Charlesbridge, 2002) has sold more than 200,000 copies in paperback, and continues to sell. His work has received the Eureka! Nonfiction Silver Medal, the High Plains Books Award, made the Junior Library Guild Selection list, and received many starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and others.

Author Residence: Missoula, MT

Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning author and illustrator of picture books, including the acclaimed Over and Under series with author Kate Messner, which was praised for its "stunning retro-style illustrations" (New York Times). Neal's author debut Everyone was praised by Publishers Weekly as "simple, honest, lyrical.” His board books Animal Colors and Animal Shapes received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus. He speaks about his books, the art-making process, and his career at schools, conferences, libraries, and book festivals across the country. Neal is a Mexican/European-American artist who lives with his wife and two boys in Brooklyn, NY.

Illustrator Residence: Brooklyn, NY