They're fluffy. They're funny. They could kill you―and your kid won't stop talking about them. In Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead , author Brooke Hartman and illustrator María García deliver a laugh-out-loud STEM picture book that flips the script on adorable wildlife. Each page dives into the shockingly dangerous traits of nature's cutest creatures―think venomous slow lorises, surprisingly savage ladybugs, and owls with a taste for everything. Blending educational content with a wink of humor, this book makes science as thrilling as it is unforgettable. Perfect for curious kids ages 6–8, this nonfiction gem transforms biology into bold, comic-style storytelling. Readers will discover how the fluffiest faces conceal claws, poison, or perfectly tuned predatory instincts―learning real animal facts through engaging visuals and fun narration. Whether it's for a bedtime read, a classroom conversation-starter, or a "Did you know?" battle on a road trip, this book sneaks in fascinating STEM lessons under the guise of pure entertainment. Praised by parents, librarians, and educators alike, Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead is a hilarious introduction to the natural world's most unexpected predators. For fans of Weird But True , Butt or Face? , and the wild facts of YouTube's Casual Geographic , it's a reminder that sometimes, the most adorable animals are also the fiercest. 2026 CBC Kids Favorites Winner 2026 Indiana Read-Aloud Selection 2026 Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Awards Nominee "Whether kids like cute and cuddly creatures or oddball and dangerous ones, they’ll get a kick out of these animals... The illustrations are creative, cute, and often funny. Adults will even learn a lot if they read along with their kids." ― Youth Services Book Review, STARRED Review "Entertaining and informative, giving young animal lovers and future biologists plenty to explore... The deadly behaviors of some of the planet's cutest creatures make for captivating and funny reading in this beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book." ― Shelf Awareness "With pun-tastic relish, Hartman introduces 17 deadly wild creatures… Offering a heady combination of solid fact and crowd-pleasing theme, this makes [for] a rousing read-aloud." ― Booklist "This fun and unique nonfiction picture book introduces confident elementary school readers to a selection of cute and dangerous animals found around the world." ― School Library Journal "Engaging, informative text... will keep readers turning pages. An awe-inspiring lineup of dangerous darlings. " ― Kirkus Reviews Brooke Hartman is an Alaskan mom who seriously loves to write not-so-serious books for kids. Her writing has garnered multiple awards, including honors from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Writer’s Digest, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and the Alaska Writers Guild. She also serves as an occasional instructor of writing for Alaska Pacific University and member of the board of directors for the Alaska Writers Guild, and was an SCBWI Tribute Fund Scholarship Recipient. When she isn’t writing, you can find her having fun with her family, enjoying all the magic life has to offer. María García is a children's book illustrator from Seville, Spain. She loves designing diverse characters, from children to anthropomorphic animals and creatures, and stories that children can empathize with while they have fun and learn to build a better world. She loves fantasy and mystery stories and her work is mainly digital, but in her free time she paints gouache illustrations with which she has participated in some exhibitions.