Animal Faces features sets of 21 photographs of the faces of two dozen different animals and uses text to help guide observation in noticing their differences. Open-ended questions encourage children to think about features that show emotion, fear, age and how individuals are differentiated within a species.

Some animals offer up more insights than others - reading emotion on a rhinosceros' face isn't easy - but you cannot delve as deeply into this book as a curious preschooler is bound to do without being surprised by what you see, and it's often the most inscrutable ones you keep returning to. In the world of animal books, Animal Faces offers reasons to identify with them as individuals rather than simply as representatives of their species. In doing so, we can't help but learn more about them.

Originally published for a Japanese audience, the book does feature a few species native to Japan that your child is less likely to see in a zoo. The translation is good, the photos are excellent, and the approach is unique and memorable. This is a book for talking about, poring over, and commenting on, so if you have a kid who likes to talk while reading, or a night you both would rather have a meandering discussion than follow a story, Animal Faces is a great choice.

The hardcover book sells for a mere $9 on Amazon.com, and is part of the site's 4-for-3 book sales promotion.


- Jeremiah