Summary

Moose, Goose, Animals on the Loose! A Canadian Wildlife ABC by Geraldo Valerio, 40 pages. @ SPL: JP Valer “Here they come … Canadian animals running, jumping, swimming and roaring your way!” Beginning with an Arctic fox and a beaver, Geraldo Valerio’s colourful new alphabet book features a wealth of animals, birds, fish and insects which live somewhere in Canada, whether on land or in the ocean. Each letter of the alphabet - displayed in both uppercase and lowercase - is represented by a Canadian creature, pictured in eye-catching collage artwork. (The letter “Q” is represented by a quail and “X” is represented by a muskox and a lynx.) Plenty of activity is depicted in this picture book. Branch by branch a beaver is busily building a house; a caribou is caring for its calf; dragonflies are darting to and fro; a frog is feasting on flies; a loon is laughing loudly on the lake; a ring-tailed raccoon is sneaking around in search of food, and so on. From coast to coast to coast, Geraldo’s Valerio’s picture book is an exuberant celebration of Canada’s diverse wildlife, from the very large (a king-sized killer whale) to the very small (a tiny yellow jacket). Fun facts about each creature are included at the end of the book. ** Recommended for ages 2 to 6 years. ** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.