Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead by Brooke Hartman, illustrated by María García (Sourcebooks Explore, 48 pages, grades 2-5). Seventeen deceptively cute animals are introduced, each one starting with an illustration, a description that emphasizes its cuteness, and a fact box that includes size, favorite food, habitat, and conservation status. Turn the page, and you’ll learn about that adorable creature’s fearsome hunting prowess and/or dangerous defenses. Each animal gets a 1-10 rating for its aww-dorable and aaaah!-some levels. A two-page spread of photos at the end confirms the cuteness of each of the animals.

Kids love books about cute animals and they also go for books about deadly animals, so here we have a winning combination. The lighthearted, funny text and illustrations make this an appealing read. The title is a bit deceptive for human readers since, for instance, a ladybug will only kill you dead if you happen to be an aphid, and you’ll only need to watch out for a flying gecko if you’re a salamander or snake. A table of contents and some back matter like a reading list would have made this a more useful resource.

Poo Pile on the Prairie by Amy Hevron (Beach Lane Books, 48 pages, ages 4-9). Majestic bison thunder across the plains, mowing down miles of meadows, and producing…a pile of poo. Over the next year, this “bison pie” proves a life-giving bonanza for all sorts of creatures. Insects like dung beetles make their home there, which attracts the birds who eat them. Prairie violets and other flowers blossom, feeding butterflies. Prairie dogs and earthworms enjoy burrowing into the rich soil that the poo has created. The last remnants fertilize the new grass in the early springtime, which in turn feeds the bison and starts the cycle once again. Includes “The Scoop on Bison Poop” with additional information, a book list, and a list of sources.

The title of this book is sure to attract readers like flies to…well, you get the idea. It’s full of interesting facts that are presented with plenty of humor, and the illustrations with bug-eyed creatures and lots of cartoon bubbles add to the fun. This is part of a series called Tiny Habitats that so far includes books about life on a log and a sunken ship, with a new one out in September on a rainforest pool.