From a rhinoceros to deer and tropical creatures, the following books celebrate animals from all around the world.
OVER IN THE MANGROVES, by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Dikshaa Pawaskar, Orchard Books, July 15, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Reimagining a classic nursery rhyme, Over in the Mangroves is about the interconnected animals of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest.
Over in the mangroves by the river in the sun, slinks a fierce mama tiger and her little tiger one.
Inspired by the classic nursery rhyme, Over in the Mangroves is a fresh take that layers counting and social emotional moments into a beautiful interactive tale. From dawn to dusk, this enchating story follows forest animals as they fish, swim, dig, and bask before a storm sends them all searching for shelter among the mangrove trees.
Set in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest — a UNESCO World Heritage site straddling India and Bangladesh — Over in the Mangroves uses lyrical rhyming text to explore the interconnected creatures who call this forest their home. Lavish illustrations will draw readers in, and children will love searching for more creatures hiding among the trees. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note and more information on the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest and the animals found inside the book. —Synopsis provided by Orchard Books
WHERE THE DEER SLIP THROUGH, by Katey Howes and Beth Krommes, Beach Lane Books, June 3, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
This is the hedge that grew and grew.
The wall of stone a bit askew.
This is the gap where the deer slip through,
when the sky is still more pink than blue…
Throughout the course of a beautiful summer day, from sunrise to moonrise, a host of animals find their way through a gap in the hedge, bringing the farm to life. —Synopsis provided by Beach Lane Books
CLARA THE TRIUMPHANT RHINOCEROS: A TRUE STORY, by Jane Kurtz and Claire Messer, Beach Lane Books, April 8, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Meet Clara the world-traveling rhino picture book based on the fascinating true story of how, in the late 1700s, she showed the world that big animals aren’t scary beasts but noble and intelligent creatures.
Clara the rhinoceros was born in India in 1738. When she was orphaned as a baby, a kind Dutch merchant took her in. But, as Clara grew bigger and bigger, it was clear she needed a new home. A visiting sea captain had an idea: If he brought Clara to Europe, people all over the world could see how wonderful she was!
And so, Clara left her home, and she and Captain Van der Meer became a kind of family. They travelled all over by carriage, boat, road, and river. Clara met kings and queens, merchants and farmers, artists and scientists, and, along the way, forever changed the way people thought about her species and other large animals of the land, sea, and sky. —Synopsis provided by Beach Lane Books
*This post is part of a larger summer reading list, which consists of recommendations but not individual book reviews.
Copyright © 2025 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
