Awards

• Dogwood Readers Award Finalist
• Mockingbird Reading Program Nominee

Overview

Some animal features are easy to see—long tails, large wings, patterned fur, or sharp beaks. But look closer—you might be surprised by what you find! A penguin’s sharp beak hides a textured tongue that helps it grip fish. A red-eyed tree frog has a golden eyelid that covers its eyes so it can see predators while it sleeps. A platypus fends off predators with a venomous spur. Rhyming text and eye-catching photos offer an up-close look at lots of fascinating hidden creature features!

Full Product Details

9781728445670

Table of Contents

Reviews

Wild animals show off adaptations that are not apparent at first, or sometimes even second, sight. If the big, bright, close-up nature photos (mostly stock) and effective use of page turns to rev up the drama don't rivet younger audiences, Park's pithy verse should do the trick. Here's a platypus, for example: 'I might look cute / with my BILL and fur. / But hidden from sight . . . // IS A VENOMOUS SPUR!' Likewise, the wonderfully named sarcastic fringehead fish has a mouth that snaps open like a folded umbrella to enormous size ('When challenged, / I won't step aside. / I'm ready to FIGHT / when I . . . // OPEN WIDE!'). Other (less terrifying) revelations include a penguin gaping to expose a tongue covered in sharp, stiff bristles; a snowy owl dangling surprisingly long legs, a squirrel-like colugo extending broad gliding membranes; a pangolin with a long pink tongue protruding from its mouth (kept in the creature's chest), and a swimming tiger's webbed toes. The author adds explanatory notes with each entry and, along with a closing invitation to readers to identify their own hidden adaptations, offers several leads to broader surveys of the topic. (This book was reviewed digitally.) High marks for presentation and showy cast alike. --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Wild animals show off adaptations that are not apparent at first, or sometimes even second, sight. If the big, bright, close-up nature photos (mostly stock) and effective use of page turns to rev up the drama don't rivet younger audiences, Park's pithy verse should do the trick. Here's a platypus, for example: 'I might look cute / with my BILL and fur. / But hidden from sight . . . // IS A VENOMOUS SPUR!' Likewise, the wonderfully named sarcastic fringehead fish has a mouth that snaps open like a folded umbrella to enormous size ('When challenged, / I won't step aside. / I'm ready to FIGHT / when I . . . // OPEN WIDE!'). Other (less terrifying) revelations include a penguin gaping to expose a tongue covered in sharp, stiff bristles; a snowy owl dangling surprisingly long legs, a squirrel-like colugo extending broad gliding membranes; a pangolin with a long pink tongue protruding from its mouth (kept in the creature's chest), and a swimming tiger's webbed toes. The author adds explanatory notes with each entry and, along with a closing invitation to readers to identify their own hidden adaptations, offers several leads to broader surveys of the topic. (This book was reviewed digitally.) High marks for presentation and showy cast alike. --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Jane Park is the author of the acclaimed children's book Juna's Jar and an award-winning podcast and TV/ video producer. While producing a wildlife TV show, she was surprised to discover that beavers have orange teeth — even though they are a beloved animal in Canada, where she grew up. Jane lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit her online at janeparkbooks.com.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available