Editor's note: There is a lot to be learned from our nonhuman fellow creatures, and author-illustrator Craig Gosling makes that learning fun for both children and adults in a delightful new book, For the Love of Animals--Rhyme and Reason. Gosling is a retired medical illustrator who has a lifelong interest in animals and the natural world.

Firefly

Little firefly in the sky flying low and flying high. Who is it you try to find with a flickering bright behind? I hear you're looking for a mate before your light dissipates. Good luck to you in your quest. I hope your batteries are the best.

Penguins

Dressing up for dinner seems so formal but for penguins it is really quite normal. White shirts and black tails are always in style but why don't they wear ties once in a while?

Manatee

An unusual animal, you must agree, is the wonderful manatee. Under water it swims serene cruising just like a submarine.

It gobbles up lush water plants but never fish, like cormorants. Please watch out gentle manatee for boat propellers you can't see.

Ostrich

The ostrich stands eight feet high and prefers to walk than fly. The eggs it lays are not small, about the size of bowling balls.

One egg scrambled from this beast makes a pretty big breakfast feast. Ostriches are raised for meat, are low in fat and taste real neat.

A single drumstick can feed a team with ostrich burgers most extreme, And, buffalo wings from this bird are gigantic and most absurd.