Downer, John. Weird nature; an astonishing exploration of nature's strangest behavior.

Firefly. 156p. illus. index. c2002. 1-55297-586-X. $19.95. JSA *

On the cover of Weird Nature is the first of many wonderfully strange nature photos--a flying frog. The inside pages offer just what the title and cover photo promise--a beautifully photographed look at animal behaviors that most of us would consider, well ... weird. These behaviors are examined in sections on motion, breeding, feeding, defenses, partners, and "potions" (herbal remedies used by various animals to self-medicate).

Written and photographed by producer/director/wildlife photographer John Downer, Weird Nature is a companion book to the Discovery Channel series by the same name. This is one of those rare finds that teachers of "reluctant readers" will especially appreciate--a gorgeous book whose pictures entice the viewer into reading text that turns out to be just as captivating.

The action photo of a rolling caterpillar leads naturally to vocabulary-rich text that explains, "if it meets a predator, this caterpillar anchors its rear to the ground, recoils rapidly, and then rolls away backwards like a bright-green tire." Flip to a full-page photo of three kittens snuggled with a perky mouse on top of the furry pyramid and who could resist reading on to find out how this unusual friendship developed? (They have grown up together.) Arrive at the photo of a bowerbird decorating its nest with various odds and ends--all blue--and who wouldn't want to know more? The accompanying text, in turn, offers its own fascinating, characteristically humorous trinkets. Apparently male bowerbirds are attracted by anything blue and have been known to steal pen caps, keys, earrings for nest decorations, "tinkering with home improvements" to help create a "romantic mood" while waiting for a female to drop in. What self-respecting reader (especially one of middle school age) wouldn't want to know why the baby birds in the "devious. defenses" chapter are spewing vomit or what happens after the worms featured in the "fantastic feeding" section finish injecting their prey with digestive juices?

Note and mild warning: This reviewer found that selected pictures/passages were ideal for read-aloud with sixth graders (who vied for the' book during our daily sustained silent reading time). The chapter on "bizarre breeding" generated special interest and a bit of giggling.

All of this is not to say that Weird Nature is just a book of interesting oddities. It also offers vivid illustrations of concepts such as mutualism, parasitism, and adaptation that are fundamental to "science literacy." It provides scientific explanations for mythical figures such as unicorns (inspired by narwhals) and mermaids. And finally, by pointing out resemblances between human behavior and that of other animals, it emphasizes that we are an integral part of this wacky animal kingdom--and have a responsibility to help protect our fellow members, however odd they, too, may be. Gloria Levine, Reading & English Teacher, Hoover M.S., Potomac, MD