In this commemorative volume, created especially for sharing, Eric Carle celebrates the broadest, liveliest cast of animals yet, illustrating a distinguished collection of poetry and lyrical pieces from sources as diverse as the Bible, Shakespeare, Japanese haiku, African Pygmy, Pawnee Indian, Eugene Field, Lewis Carroll, D. H. Lawrence, Rudyard Kipling, Judith Viorst, Issa, Ogden Nash, Jack Prelutsky, and X. J. Kennedy.

With brilliant, full-color illustrations that reflect the highest level of artistic excellence, Carle invites the earth's children--brothers, sisters, parents, teachers, friends, all--to glory in the sameness, the difference, and the wonder of the earth's precious animals.