Meet the competition: the Lion, the Tiger, the Jaguar, the Cheetah, the Leopard, and the Panther!

This tale of claws and jaws invites readers into the world of big cats: where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever encountered one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing how they survive, why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them.

Meet the competition: the Black Widow, the Funnel-Web Spider, the Brown Recluse, the Brazilian Wandering Spider, the Mouse Spider, and the Six-Eyed Sand Spider!

The Deadliest: Spider invites readers into the world of spiders: where they live, their spidery habits—and what could happen if you get bitten by one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing how they survive, why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should leave them alone and protect them.

Meet the competition: the Spectacled Cobra, the Sea Snake, the Black Mamba, the Inland Taipan, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, and the Boomslang!

This tale of fangs and venom invites readers into the world of snakes: where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever encounter one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing how they survive, why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them. The Deadliest: Snake shows that even the deadliest creatures may not be as scary as we think.

Meet the competition: Belladonna, Angel’s Trumpet, Hemlock, Wolfsbane, Oleander, and Tobacco!

This tale of blooms and doom invites readers into the world of deadly flowering plants: where they grow, how they’re used—and what could happen if you ever come into contact with one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them. The Deadliest: Flower shows that even the deadliest things in nature may not be as scary as we think.

Meet the competition: Stonefish, Cone Snail, Blue-Ringed Octopus, Pufferfish, Great White Shark, and Box Jellyfish!

Who’s the true danger of the sea? This tale of teeth, tentacles, and toxins invites readers into the world of deadly sea creatures: where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever come into contact with one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them.

Meet the competition: Kissing Bug, Body Louse, Mosquito, Flea, Tsetse Fly, and Sandfly!

Who’s the true danger of the sea? This tale of teeth, tentacles, and toxins invites readers into the world of deadly sea creatures: where they live, what they eat—and what could happen if you ever come into contact with one. It also encourages readers to appreciate them, showing why they’re important to the places they live—and why we should protect them.

Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice is an entomologist, science writer, and regular expert on Discovery’s What on Earth? She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Max Temescu is a designer and New York Times best-selling illustrator currently based in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Max Temescu photo (c) Benita Lily Cheng