This slim encyclopedia is aimed at satisfying the very young reader's first attempt at animal research. The 155 entries are arranged in alphabetical order, from aardvark to zebra, and are illustrated with just fewer than 1,000 color pictures, including some photographs. The animals are those most likely to be encountered by young children in picture books, zoos, or their own backyards. There are also entries for larger groups (baby animal, mammal, reptile) and for some topics related to animal behavior, such as communication and migration. Each topic is covered in one page, with text consisting of a brief description of the animal in bold type, and captions for each picture. The print size is readable and appealing to the elementary user.

For some animals, such as butterfly and frog, an illustration of the life cycle is provided, with numbers to help students see the various stages in sequence. Each page includes "Find Out More," which functions as a see also reference. Fact boxes contain added facts and figures, but are missing for some animals. Parents, teachers, and librarians will welcome step-by-step activities and projects that are included with animal topics that lend themselves to arts-and-crafts projects. A glossary and index add value to the volume as a reference tool.