Poet David Elliott brings us to the edge of the animal world to explore the weirdest and rarest creatures on the planet.

Why does the axolotl salamander always seem to be smiling? Is it true that the wild goat known as a markhor is excellent at parkour? What happens when the peacock spider’s dance, complete with its rumble-rumps, doesn’t please the object of its affection? Providing a peek at everything from scaly pangolins to duck-billed platypuses, from the lemur known as an aye-aye to the perpetually grumpy (and adorable) black rain frog, David Elliott’s poetic vignettes deliver a witty and informative take on some of the world’s oddest animals. Brought to life in striking illustrations by collage artist Clover Robin, this roundup of unique creatures will delight animal lovers of all stripes.