Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) believed that it was his mission in life to catalogue everything on the planet: animals, plants, minerals - even a few mythological creatures. Janis Freegard, contrariwise, is a poet trained in botany who has arranged the poems in her witty and engaging first collection by Linnaeus' six animal classes. Featuring a stuffed kuri, murderous magpies and cake-shop cockroaches, Freegard's work reflects the diversity of the animal kingdom and a commitment to conservation - while chronicling the adventures of her hero Linnaeus with a critical but admiring eye.