Nature’s Partners
How Plants, Animals and Insects Team Up
by Eugenia Perrella
illustrated by Lucilla Tubaro
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
ISBN 9781459843790
$21.95 (hc), 36 pp, ages 6 – 9
orcabook.com
“Nature is as wise as it is mysterious. And not everything is as it seems.” So begins the exploration of eleven cross-species friendships. Young readers will learn how each pair of animals gets along and how they depend on each other for survival! Each bold and colourful illustration spans two pages and gives the reader a close-up look at the pairs of animals. The parasitic anemone and the hermit crab move slowly together across the page. The brown-backed honeybird calls the honey badger to come and feast on the honeycomb it has found. The badger breaks open the honeycomb and, when it is finished eating, leaves the scraps for the honeybird.
Classroom Connections: This beautifully illustrated non-fiction picture book could be read aloud to primary students one section at a time so as to focus closely on each pair of animals. Making predictions, asking questions, and making connections are just some of the comprehension skills that can be developed while reading. The theme of symbiotic relationships is clearly explained in both the text and illustrations and will likely spark many classroom discussions and activities.
Review by Brenda Boreham.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Fall 2026 issue.
