Books in What Is It? series

What makes an insect an insect? Is it a very small, many-legged creature that flies? That's a good way to describe some insects, but others, such as ants, never take to the air at all. And just how many legs do insects have? A beetle has six legs and spider has eight--are these both insects? Knowing whether or not an animal is an insect can be tricky, but What is an Insect? makes solving the puzzle fascinating and fun.

What makes a fish a fish? How can creatures as different as the great white shark and the tiny minnow both belong to the same class of animals? Why are unusual creatures such as eels and seahorses considered fish, while whales and dolphins are not? Recognizing which aquatic animals are fish can be tricky but What is a Fish? makes solving the puzzle fascinating and fun.

WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL? provides children with ways to explore the underlying ideas of what constitutes true beauty. With issues of self-esteem and peer pressures inside and outside of school leading children to self-abuse, WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL? conveys a deeper understanding of inner values, as opposed to media hype. Encouraging a consideration of what makes a person truly beautiful, WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL? is a useful tool in giving children a sense of identity and worth.

The What Is It Series of Books is a compilation of over a thousand drawings by Sebastian De Angelis. The drawings are interesting, fascinating and sometimes humorous. They’re in black & white and are available in paperback. The whole family should enjoy hours of viewing these detailed drawings. De Angelis' unique, unusual style will leave you wondering What Is It? Although there doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason as to what the artist is drawing, small creatures appear randomly throughout the books. These humanoid looking beings (unnamed or purpose described) come in all shapes and sizes. They typically are involved with things of a malicious nature, throwing levers, pressing buttons and all-out getting in the way of normality. Where do all the wild ideas come from that sets the artists pen in motion? Most of the work tells me that De Angelis is delivering a message that life is not as perfect under the facade surface as we imagine. And that situations in the world around us are a lot more ironic then we assume. The nuts & bolts, chewing gum & duck-tape that holds it all together is the World’s way of evolving. Then the practicality fades due in part to those pesky humanoids! So be careful (xiao xin) out there, it’s much more precarious then you think! Heee heeee…