Animal Sidekicks book cover
Format: Hardcover
Age Range: 8–10
Book Size: 9” x 11”
ISBN: 9781684492015
Pages: 128
Publication Date: April 5, 2022
Price: US $19.99 / CAN $26.99

Animal Sidekicks

Amazing Stories of Symbiosis in Animals and Plants

Heard about the fish that clean shark teeth? Or the frog that lives with a tarantula? Welcome to the weird world of symbiosis—where animals form incredible relationships.

Macken Murphy, host of the popular animal podcast Species, introduces his favourite symbiotic relationships in his first kids’ nonfiction book. Along the way he explains the cool science behind the baffling behaviour of some animals—from friendly alliances to pesky parasites. Alongside him, illustrator Dragan Kordić skillfully brings to life head-scratching relationships in nature, including:

  • The crab that wears a sea urchin as a hat
  • The bat that goes to bed inside a plant
  • The warthog that takes a trip to a mongoose spa

You’ll even find out about symbiotic relationships including YOU! (Hint—is your head ever itchy?) By the end of the book you won’t look at nature in the same way again!

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Author & Illustrator

Macken Murphy is a writer and science educator. He hosts a weekly podcast about animals, Species, recommended by both Apple and BBC’s Wildlife magazine. He is currently studying anthropology at the University of Oxford.

Dragan Kordić is a children’s book illustrator with a master’s degree in applied graphics. Besides being an art enthusiast, he finds inspiration in exploring nature, travelling, and reading books. He loves spending time with his wife, young daughter, friends (real and imaginary), his parrot August, and two dogs. He lives in Rijeka, Croatia.

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