Book review: 'Little Kids First Big Book of Pets' is a colorful conglomoration of animal information

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I was excited to read, "Little Kids First BIG Book of Pets" because my two-year-old, like so many other kids her age, is obsessed with animals. And this book does not disappoint. It's stuffed to the brim (just pretend books have brims, mmmkay?) with wonderful photographs of all kinds of animals people typically have as pets, much to her enjoyment. Olders can enjoy this as well, as it also contains a lot of information.

"Big Book of Pets" is divided into five chapters. In chapter one, the whole idea of what pets are is explained. Then other details, like the differences between livestock and domesticated animals are gone over. I liked that this book also talks about what isn't a pet. Wolves? Not pets. Wildcats? Also not a good pet idea. Squirrels? Still not pets. These concepts are usually easy for adults to understand but, kids often (as in, ALWAYS) need to be reminded of stuff like this.

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Chapter two is all about dogs. And, as man's best friend (they're still man's best friend, right?), that makes sense that an entire chapter be devoted them. Puppies, large dogs, small dogs, dog breeds, are all explained here. Then concepts like, how to train a dog, caring for your dog, and even understanding your dog are covered. Did you know when dogs yawn it doesn't mean they're tired? It means they're nervous or a bit upset. Yawning helps them calm down. I never knew that!

Chapter three is dedicated to cats. And, just like the previous chapter, this one covers the kinds of cats, the difference between long-haired and short-haired cats, and how to understand your cat. Again, oddles of feline information is found here, just like in the dog chapter.

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Moving on, chapters four and five cover animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, fish, birds, amphibians, and more. Phew, that's a lot of pets!

I learned a lot from this book, I learned that goldfish like cold water while betas prefer warm. I learned that gerbils get lonely, so it's better to keep them in pairs. Ferrets need to be let our of their cages every day, but they're trouble-makers, so owners should keep a close eye on them.

Image from Amazon

This National Geographic Kids book also talks about every animal's basic needs, such as what it needs to eat, the kind of area it needs to live in, its favorite type of bedding, and the kinds of toys it most enjoys. Little tidbits of information are also tucked all into this book and, by the time you or your kid finish reading it, you'll feel ready to open a pet shop.

The only downside I found with this book was its pages. The other "Little Kids First" books I've read are all board books, making them safe to give to my two-year-old. This one, probably because it's more than 100+ pages, has normal paper, making it one my little should only read with me by her side. If I don't want the book to end up shredded, that is.

Other than needing to be careful to not let your littles mangle this book's pages, "Little Kids First BIG Book of Pets" is a really fun way to learn more about animals. Pre-readers can enjoy all the color photographs and readers can enjoy finding out facts about so many pets.

But, beware, this book just might motivated your kids to ask for more pets.

Book breakdown:
128 pages
A lot of full-color photographs
Best for ages: Preschool through fifth grade
Educational factor: medium to medium-high
Religious content: N/A
Parents could be concerned about: Nothing.