A downy Canada gosling peeking out from under its parent's wing. A spindly-legged baby wildebeest in East Africa taking its first steps. A trio of golden retriever puppies gnawing on a stick.

Taken in locations around the world, the images in this appealing volume bring to life the playful natures, endearing vulnerabilities, and irresistible brand-newness of a wide range of baby animals, both wild and domestic. At once heartwarming and enlightening, Baby Animals features pictures that capture intimate and entertaining moments in the daily life of the young of various species, accompanied by captions that provide fascinating tidbits on animal behavior, habitat and much more. Readers witness first flights and forays away from the safety of the nest or burrow, and quick retreats back to the protection of animal parents.

Photographs of a mother orangutan cradling her child, a red fox barking at her cub, and a young lion cub practicing its offensive tactics on its patient mother demonstrate the close connection between animal babies and their parents. Similarly, pictures of a still fuzzy wolf cub throwing back its head to howl and a kitten pouncing on a real or imagined mouse depict young animals' assertion of independence. The chunky, three-dimensional quality of this book is perfectly suited to the lively nature of the subject matter of this volume, as baby animals practically spring off its pages.