Did you know that the powerful jaws of a crocodile can be kept closed with a mere rubber band? Or that the polar bear can smell food from up to 40 miles away? The animal kingdom is absolutely astonishing--and this riveting reference from Britain’s esteemed Natural History Museum shows kids the wonder of it all. Packed with thousands of fascinating facts and stunning photographs throughout, it features world record holders from each of the main animal groups--including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fishes, and insects. Find out which marsupial can jump safely to the ground from 100 feet high, why it’s almost impossible to swat a fly, and what creature regularly gives birth to quadruplets. Intriguing stories throughout reveal both the brilliant and the bizarre, from the most colorful to the most resourceful.