"Lions and Tigers
and Bears . . . Oh, My!"

Almost everyone has a favorite animal. Some are dog lovers, others are cat people. Some people may even be obsessed with sharks. All in all, the animal kingdom is filled with thousands of species that are the subjects of countless books aimed at young readers.

Now that school is starting back, it's the perfect time to stock up on titles that let kids find out more about their favorites animals, or learn about those they are unfamiliar with.

Books about animals are excellent teaching tools. A "Zoo Day" in your library would be a fun way to expose children to the world's animals--without having to leave the building. Another idea is to explore the continents by asking students to find animals that are indigenous to a particular area of the world. For example, a geography lesson can be taught by having students research the habitats of the Bengal tiger, the African elephant, or the Tasmanian devil.

Many of today's youngsters are just crazy about dinosaurs. These extinct creatures are enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to such films as King Kong and Jurassic Park. There are many books available that give kids an up-close-and-personal look at the mighty T. Rex, triceratops, and pterodactyl. While learning about these animals, kids can also discover what life may have been like on Earth millions of years ago.

Having plenty of books on hand about animals has a two-fold purpose: encouraging a healthy respect for animals and instilling a love of reading in today's youth.

•Sharks have been around since prehistoric times. They have such a knack for survival that they've had no need to evolve in the last 150 million years.

•Long believed to be members of the raccoon family, pandas are, indeed, bears.

•Cows and horses sleep standing up.

•Despite its coat of fluffy white fur, a polar bear's skin is actually black.