
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Buy new:
-10% $19.80$19.80
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
Save with Used - Acceptable
$7.52$7.52
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: -OnTimeBooks-

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Animalia: Anniversary Edition Hardcover – September 15, 1987
Purchase options and add-ons
The international blockbuster alphabet book from bestselling and acclaimed creator Graeme Base, in a giftable deluxe anniversary edition
With millions of copies sold around the world, Graeme Base’s amazing alliterative alphabet book is one of the most beloved titles of all time. Animalia’s incredible imaginary world intrigues readers of all ages, with hidden objects and ideas on every page. Start with “A is for An Armoured Armadillo Avoiding an Angry Alligator” and you’ll find aprons, ants, aces, Atom-brand anchovies, and much more. The rest of the alphabet is just as much fun!
This anniversary edition also comes with a special edition poster and riddle on the reverse side of the book jacket.
- Print length40 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level8 and up
- Dimensions9.5 x 0.5 x 13 inches
- PublisherAbrams Books for Young Readers
- Publication dateSeptember 15, 1987
- ISBN-100810918684
- ISBN-13978-0810918689
Frequently bought together

More items to explore
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Graeme Base received international acclaim for his smash hit Animalia, which has sold more than three million copies. Among his many other beloved and bestselling books are The Jewel Fish of Karnak, Enigma, The Eleventh Hour, The Water Hole, The Legend of the Golden Snail, and many more. He lives with his family in Melbourne, Australia.
Product details
- Publisher : Abrams Books for Young Readers; First Edition (September 15, 1987)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0810918684
- ISBN-13 : 978-0810918689
- Reading age : 2 - 8 years, from customers
- Grade level : 8 and up
- Item Weight : 1.33 pounds
- Dimensions : 9.5 x 0.5 x 13 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #92,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #244 in Children's Alphabet Books
- #6,505 in Children's Animals Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Graeme Base is one of the world's leading creators of picture books. His alphabet book, Animalia, received international acclaim when it was first published in 1986 and has sold more than two million copies. Graeme lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the illustrations stunning and colorful. They describe the book as engaging and worth hours of enjoyment. It is suitable for all ages, teaching young children cognitive and linguistic concepts. The vocabulary is rich and the alliteration helps develop vocabulary. Readers appreciate the variety of images on each page and that there is no list of pictures to find. Many consider it a perfect gift for any age and a family favorite.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find the illustrations beautiful, colorful, and whimsical. The pages are rich with detail and the book is unique and memorable from their childhood.
"...The art is beautiful and very unique. I have used it many times and have shared with other teachers." Read more
"...The rich illustrations, the vocabulary, the hidden pictures (What else can you find that starts with L?), the alliteration... all of it is here...." Read more
"beautiful illustrations" Read more
"It intrigues every child at every age. A generational keeper." Read more
Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging for all ages, with colorful and detailed illustrations. The book is described as interactive, timeless, and fun. It's enjoyable to find each item with a friend and each time you visit a page.
"This has always been my all-time favorite alphabet book...." Read more
"...the alliteration... all of it is here. A child can spend hours on this book, and it's a great way to spend time with the kids...." Read more
"...artist with a good number of these kinds of books to spend quality time with your kids...." Read more
"It intrigues every child at every age. A generational keeper." Read more
Customers find the book suitable for many ages. It's great for teaching young children cognitive and linguistic concepts, and it's a must-have for every child's library. The hidden images make it fun for more age groups, while older children are entertained solving the mystery and counting the hidden mice. It's interesting and challenging for everyone, making it a great sharing book for the entire family.
"...All in all I say it's a book for all ages." Read more
"...I also highly reccomend "The Eleventh Hour". It is a mystery with puzzles for all ages above say 7 or so & up depending on interests, attention span..." Read more
"...Good for preschoolers through middle elementary age kids." Read more
"I loved this book as a child. I pored over each detail of the intricate imagery, discovering something new each time...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's language learning. They find it rich in vocabulary and has clever alliteration to demonstrate it. The illustrations are lovely, and children grow tremendously in vocabulary development after reading it. The alliterative verses are perfect for each letter, and the book introduces them to the magic of words.
"...It beautifully illustrates alliteration both by word and art. The art is beautiful and very unique...." Read more
"...The rich illustrations, the vocabulary, the hidden pictures (What else can you find that starts with L?), the alliteration... all of it is here...." Read more
"...This helps teach the alphabet, animals & rhyming, in a fun way which includes hidden items to locate at each letter...." Read more
"...to do more than listen right now, but this book will introduce her to magic of words!" Read more
Customers enjoy the pictures in the book. They find the combination of images on each page fun and inventive. The pictures are large, bright, and many are two-page spreads. Many of the animals and artifacts fill the entire pages. There is no list of pictures to find, so readers can spend their time leisurely.
"...The rich illustrations, the vocabulary, the hidden pictures (What else can you find that starts with L?), the alliteration... all of it is here...." Read more
"...alphabet, animals & rhyming, in a fun way which includes hidden items to locate at each letter...." Read more
"...The pictures are large and bright. The combination of images on each page is fun and inventive...." Read more
"...Then there are hidden pictures that start with each of the letters that the children can find and identify...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book as a gift for any age. They find the drawings excellent and it's a family favorite.
"Beautiful artwork, beautifully written. A classic for any family that values books and understand the importance of reading to children." Read more
"...animals and is working hard at learning the alphabet this was a perfect gift!..." Read more
"...A perfect ABC book gift! Hours and hours spent with my own children as they grew tremendously in vocabulary development!" Read more
"...Makes a perfect shower gift that will last a lifetime." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's language and illustrations. They say it takes you through a world of alphabetical animals and many more objects of the featured letter on each page. The book is not just an alphabet book, but it's entertainment and learning for children of all ages. It teaches rhyming, colors, animal names, shapes, and everything about the natural world. Readers also mention it's fun to find all the related things and the illustrations are beautiful.
"...The illustrations with the pictures of the different animals and the alliterative verses are perfect for each of the letters...." Read more
"This wonderful book engages all readers, as they search for alphabetically related people, animals, and things in this alliterative work...." Read more
"...beautifully illustrated book-colors, shapes, everything about the natural world... This is a must-have for every child’s library!" Read more
"The book, Animalia, is a treasure. Beautifully illustrated, with catchy phrases for each letter of the alphabet...." Read more
Customers enjoy the story and illustrations. They find it interesting to try to find all the animals in the book, which is described as unique.
"Very unique book! I discovered it years ago when my son was a toddler and we LOVED reading it together...." Read more
"it was very interesting to try to find all the animals, the only thing hard was finding ones that were from years ago that I never heard of, but..." Read more
"This is not a story book! So I was initially disappointed when I realized this...." Read more
"...So much detail! The story line is great too." Read more
Reviews with images

It's A Intellectual Visionary Exploration
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025All teachers who teach elementary poetry need this book. It beautifully illustrates alliteration both by word and art. The art is beautiful and very unique. I have used it many times and have shared with other teachers.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2025This book is phenomenal . I used to work at B&N and I cannot tell you how many copies I have sold. Beautiful artwork will draw you in. Even adults get sucked into the detailed pictures. I always include this book with any baby shower gift.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024Animalia is one of the first books I gift to family & friends of young kids. This helps teach the alphabet, animals & rhyming, in a fun way which includes hidden items to locate at each letter. Spent more than a few Christmas's on living room floor with kids, nephews, nieces and young cousins. We would usually get about 45 min. to an hour at a time of them being engaged in a quiet group activity. This was before this digital device age where two, three year olds & up are using phones & tablets wayyyyy to much time each day, that quiet analog time together is even more important now. Graeme Base is a fantastic artist with a good number of these kinds of books to spend quality time with your kids. I have found Animalia to be popular with younger kids (3 to 4 ish & up) which is why its one of the first I gift. I also highly reccomend "The Eleventh Hour". It is a mystery with puzzles for all ages above say 7 or so & up depending on interests, attention span, problem solving skills, etc. Even 3 letter agency staff have enjoyed that mystery book. I put Graeme Base books on par with Hayao Miyazaki movies for originality, artistry and story. Buy & enjoy, if you can tear them away from digital.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024This has always been my all-time favorite alphabet book. The fun is to look beyond what is clearly written or shown in order to find more things that begin with that letter. But that doesn't mean it's always going to be easy; some hidden pictures are really cryptic clues you might have to grow up as an intellectual to solve. All in all I say it's a book for all ages.
5.0 out of 5 starsThis has always been my all-time favorite alphabet book. The fun is to look beyond what is clearly written or shown in order to find more things that begin with that letter. But that doesn't mean it's always going to be easy; some hidden pictures are really cryptic clues you might have to grow up as an intellectual to solve. All in all I say it's a book for all ages.It's A Intellectual Visionary Exploration
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2013First off, our family LOVES anything Graeme Base, this book does not disappoint. The rich illustrations, the vocabulary, the hidden pictures (What else can you find that starts with L?), the alliteration... all of it is here. A child can spend hours on this book, and it's a great way to spend time with the kids. His books offer much for a reluctant readers.
Second, I was looking for the 25th anniversary edition online and somehow happened upon this listing (I didn't find it through Amazon search engine). The listing didn't mention the book being 25th Anniversary Edition, but I bought it (for much cheaper than anywhere else online) because the picture showed the 25th Anniversary Edition. It arrived today and I was thrilled that it was indeed the anniversary edition. This particular edition comes with a poster on the inside of the jacket "that holds a riddle to be solved."
As a side note, I saw this book at a local big box book store and was very disappointed in cover of the paperback. It looked like a poor photocopy. So, if you're trying to decide between paperback and hardcover, I would recommend hardcover... and buy it now while the 25th Edition is still being sold (look at the picture, you'll see "25th Anniversary Edition" at the top of the cover if it is).
Also, in regards to the negative reviews.... I use anything that shocks me as a teachable moment with my child. How can I teach them to deal with the emotions associated with being exposed to something unusual? There is no doubt in my mind that my children are exposed to so many things that I would prefer them not to be exposed to on a daily basis. I don't set out to shelter them from these things, but offer advice and talk about the 'weird' things we see and that happen to us on a daily basis. It is our job as parents to prepare our kids for the Big World out there. Trust me, this book will not harm your child... get it.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2024beautiful illustrations
- Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024I bought a copy for a baby shower gift, since my own adult children had loved it so much. It's worth hours of enjoyment. There's always something new to find and provides many learning opportunities. Good for preschoolers through middle elementary age kids.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024This has been my favorite book to get for my friend's kids since I bought my first copy for my own children thirty years ago. This copy I just bought was for a friend of my daughter's who just had her own daughter. The baby's too young to do more than listen right now, but this book will introduce her to magic of words!
Top reviews from other countries
- KaneReviewed in Canada on December 27, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift
Love the illustration they are so detailed and vibrant
- HayleyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Animalia book
Brilliant book for children 3- 9 .I've had it for two generations in my family, it's great to read with them(make sure you have loads of time) and good for them to look at on their own. I bough this one for a friends son.
- zmetabReviewed in India on September 16, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Pedantic illustrations successfully arrests the attention of children.
zmetabPedantic illustrations successfully arrests the attention of children.
Reviewed in India on September 16, 2024
Images in this review
-
Carla CruzReviewed in Brazil on January 25, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Ilustrações incríveis
Ótimo para crianças e adultos que estão sendo alfabetizados em inglês! Ilustrações incríveis.
-
モモちゃんReviewed in Japan on December 28, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars 美品
とても迅速な対応をして頂きました。
本の状態も思っていたより良い状態でした。