Not a Monster

This science picture book introduces the axolotl, an amphibian found in the canals of Mexico City. It follows the gentle animal’s life cycle from egg to adult salamander and explains that it is not a monster despite the origin of its name. Two children observe an axolotl from a canoe in its native habitat. The book also addresses pollution in the Xochimilco canals, conservation efforts, Spanish vocabulary, and differences between axolotls living in captivity and in the wild.