Creatures Great and Small

Join Toronto author and illustrator Karen Patkau as she explores the world of insects, mammals, sea jellies, reptiles, amphibians, birds, crustaceans, arachnids, and mollusks. From extremely large creatures, such as the blue whale, Chinese giant salamander, and goliath tarantula, to extremely small ones, such as the bumblebee bat, dwarf gecko, and fairy shrimp, embark on this informative, beautifully illustrated voyage of discovery. Even the simple fact-filled text is enchantingly presented in the voices of the animals themselves. A glossary, map endpapers, and handy charts introducing the concepts of scale and proportion by comparing measurements of animals that are "Big" and "Really Big" to "Small" and "Really Small" make this book a must-have for parents, schools, and libraries alike.

Karen Patkau is the award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children. The first book she illustrated was Don’t Eat Spiders by Robert Heidbreder, which won the Ezra Jack Keats Memorial Medal. Several of her other books have also won prizes including the Our Choice Award for Python Play and Dimensional Illustrators Award for her books In the Sea and Seal is Lost. She has written and illustrated two books for children, both about animals: Ringtail and In the Sea. Karen Patkau resides in Toronto.

Here are some of the awards Karen Patkau has won:
-Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice 2004 Award / Sir Cassie to the Rescue
-Applied Arts Magazine Annual Awards 2004 / Sir Cassie to the Rescue
-11th Annual Dimensional Illustrators Awards 1999, Bronze / Python Play
-Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice 1999 Award / Python Play
-3rd Annual Dimensional Illustrators Awards 1992, Bronze / In the Sea
-2nd Annual Dimensional Illustrators Awards 1991, Merit / Seal is Lost
-Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice 1987 Award / Ringtail
-Ezra Jack Keats Memorial Medal — UNICEF / USSBY, 1986 / Don’t Eat Spiders
-International Graphic Design Awards 1986: Picture Book Illustration / Don’t Eat Spiders