Nonfiction Monday: Is that a fact? Can an old dog learn new tricks? and other questions about animals by Buffy Silverman, illustrated by Colin Thompson

You can never really have too many animal books or fact books. This entry in Lerner's Is that a fact? series combines these two most popular nonfiction subjects into a fun, fact-packed book. This collection of facts looks at old sayings about animals, devoting a spread to each old question. Questions include, "Can an alligator really live in the sewer?" "Do opossums really hang by their tails when they sleep?" and the titular "Can an old dog learn new tricks?".

There is a basic yes or no answer to each question, along with photographs on one page, then additional information and research on the facing page. The spread about training old dogs tell us yes, pets can be trained at any age, while the facing page explains that it takes longer to train an older dog, talks about memory and brain cells, and how research into older dogs' memory and learning abilities may help with older humans' memories and ability to learn.

The mixture of cartoons and photographs, with lots of panels and text balloons, colored text, different fonts, and backgrounds is eye-catching and will attract children who want a quick read with interesting facts and animals.

Verdict: This is a fun, if additional, series. This particular title doesn't really cover any new ground, but it's colorful and attractive and kids will enjoy reading this and other titles in the series. It's available in paperback and library bound - the paperback is more affordable, of course, but these are very slim volumes and may be lost on the shelf if you don't buy the more expensive library bound addition.

ISBN: 9780761364054; Published March 2010 by Lerner; Review copy provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2011