The Deadliest: Big Cat

by Eleanor Spicer Rice, Max Temescu (Illustrator)

Overview

Six big cats face off against the Death-O-Meter to determine which will be crowned the deadliest of the species.

Meet the deadliest big cats on Earth.

Whose bite is the most lethal? Is it the stylish tiger? The sneaky leopard? The speedy cheetah? Or someone else?

The host of this stiff competition, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, teaches the rules for big cat interactions (Do not get one as a pet! Do not encroach on their territory!), gives a digestible breakdown of these apex predators, and introduces the contestants.

This tale of claws and jaws invites readers into the world of big cats: where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever encountered one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing how they survive, why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them. With humor, accessible science, and a colorful graphic format by best-selling artist Max Temescu, The Deadliest: Big Cat shows that there’s a lot to learn about these deadly creatures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781324082385
Publisher:	Norton Young Readers
Publication date:	02/04/2025
Series:	The Deadliest
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Eleanor Spicer Rice, PhD, is an entomologist, science writer, and regular expert on Discovery’s What on Earth? She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Max Temescu is a designer and New York Times best-selling illustrator currently based in Washington, DC.

Editorial Reviews

"A ferociously fun series."

Booklist

2024-10-25
Six big cats vie for the title of “Most Fatal Feline.”

In jocular tones (“Hey, hey, you know what they say, if called by a panther, don’t anther!”), Spicer Rice profiles a slate of predatory candidates from tigers to jaguars. After describing each one’s general features and distinctive methods of attack, she picks one as the deadliest according to a “Death-O-Meter.” Though she carelessly refers to both cheetahs and snow leopards as the smallest of the big cats, her information is otherwise sketchy but sound, and in a strong running theme, she underscores the ecological importance of these apex predators. She notes that, along with big cats’ roles in culling invasive or diseased animals, they often provide significant sources of food for other creatures with their leftovers. Rightly claiming that humans are “waaaay more dangerous to big cats” than vice versa, she closes with general suggestions for protecting their threatened populations. “We have them! We need them! Let’s love them!” Temescu’s cartoon views of oblivious human victims of diverse hue being stalked and of terrified ones being chased may discomfit some readers, but his scenes of big cats chowing down on (wild animal) prey are free of visible blood or bones.

A chewy treat for young animal lovers. (drawing activity)(Informational picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews