Best Animal Book for Kids: Anthology of Intriguing Animals review

We’ve all seen certain books become staples to our households.

Whether it’s the book’s good story, beautiful photography, or way of educating — they tend to hang around for years and go everywhere with you.

This animal book, An Anthology of Intriguing Animals, is one of those books for my family.

My kids’ love for animals started early, so we’ve read several animal books. But this hardcover, decorated in gold foil and loaded with captivating photography, wins the grand award for best animal book!

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK Children's Anthologies)

My Quick Video Review

Here’s a quick video review of An Anthology of Intriguing Animals, one of the best animal books I’ve come across for kids:

Other kid-friendly products

• Reading Light. Glocusent makes the best rechargeable book light for kids.
• Draw some animals! Your kids will be inspired to draw after reading this book, so get a reliable and strong pencil sharpener.
• Smart TV. Do what we do, YouTube these animals for further learning after reading about them. This TCL 32″ TV with Roku is an excellent TV for the kid’s room.

First, a big thanks to the DK team for creating such a gem of a book! As a dad of kids who are obsessed with animals, I’m always looking for ways to nurture their curiosity. This book does exactly that, and why it made my listing of cool and unique gifts for your kiddos!

Let’s dive into the pros and cons.

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK Children's Anthologies)

Pros and Cons

What I Liked

• Stunning Photography: The images in this book are jaw-dropping. From the bat’s wings to the fine fur on a fennec fox, the detail pulls kids right in.
• Engaging Layout: Each page offers a clean layout with 1-2 paragraphs of bite-sized info and a standout fun fact. Perfect for early readers!
• Durable Design: Despite heavy use (car trips, bedtime, vacations), our copy is holding up well. The gold foil edges are a nice touch too.
• Easy-to-Use Table of Contents: A visual TOC helps kids quickly find their favorite animals.
• Conversation-Starters: Each animal comes with a fun fact that has sparked some great discussions with my daughter.

What Can Be Improved

• Heavy for kids under 5: It’s not too heavy, but some preschoolers might need help carrying it around.
• Could Use Even More Animals: 100+ is great, but my kids always want more!

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK Children's Anthologies)

Quick Verdict

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals is a beautiful and captivating book that blends photography, facts, and storytelling in a way that keeps kids engaged and asking questions. A must-have for any young animal lover’s bookshelf. It’s easily one of the best animal books I’ve found for families.

Unboxing – What’s Inside?

When you first open the book, you’re greeted with shimmering gold foil page edges and a vibrant table of contents featuring thumbnails of each animal. The hardcover binding gives it a premium feel, and the interior pages are thick and glossy.

Specifications

• Title: An Anthology of Intriguing Animals
• Publisher: DK
• Cover Type: Hardcover with gold foil accents
• Page Count: 224 pages
• Target Age: 7-11 years (but even younger kids love the pictures!)
• Grade level: ‎2-4
• Weight: 3 lbs

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK Children's Anthologies)

Key Features – What I Found

Storybook-Style Animal Encyclopedia

Unlike traditional encyclopedias, this book feels more like a collection of animal stories. Each spread highlights one animal, includes a captivating photo, and features 1-2 paragraphs of text with a fun fact box. It’s educational and fun. It’s a great pick if you’re browsing books about animals for your little one.

Educational Without Being Overwhelming

Early readers can handle the short text blocks, and the visual content supports comprehension. I especially liked how each entry balances factual info with myths or cultural tidbits (like how Egyptians thought scarabs rolled the sun!). It’s one of the best books about animals that makes learning feel like an adventure.

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK Children's Anthologies)

High-Quality Design and Durability

This book has taken a beating in our house — in a good way. It’s been on road trips, dropped, and read in all sorts of settings, and it still looks good. The foil details and thick paper give it a collectible feel.

Table of Contents Kids Will Actually Use

The illustrated TOC is genius. My daughter uses it like a menu to flip to her favorite animals.

Things to consider when buying an animal encyclopedia for your kids

• Content Depth: Look for a book with short, engaging blurbs instead of dense text blocks.
• Visual Appeal: Photos and illustrations go a long way with younger readers.
• Durability: Hardcover and thick pages help with long-term use.
• Interactivity: Fun facts and myths spark conversation and imagination.

If you’re aiming to build a collection of nonfiction books about animals, An Anthology of Intriguing Animals is a fantastic place to start.

Why this Dad loves this product

I love An Anthology of Intriguing Animals because it sparks real curiosity. It’s more than just a picture book—it creates moments. Whether it’s reading fun facts before bedtime or having random trivia contests, this book has become a go-to in our house. The design is thoughtful, the content is rich, and it encourages reading in a natural, joyful way. If you’re searching for the best animal book for kids, this is it.

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK Children's Anthologies)

Dad’s Final Thoughts

Did you know that sloths only poop once a week — and when they do, they climb all the way down from the trees to do it! It’s bizarre, funny, and opened up a wild conversation about animal habits we still laugh about today.

Bottom line: this book isn’t just another pretty hardcover — it’s a conversation starter, a trivia generator, and a gateway to exploring the animal kingdom with your kids.