Why Critters Splash, Race, Twirl, and Chase
January 15, 2020
Just like human children, animals love to play, both to practice adult skills and to have fun. Gianferrari plays with words, especially action verbs, to introduce an unusual array of animals. "Plonk, dig, slide" and "rub, plop, blow" are the sounds of collared peccaries and rhinos in the mud. "Nibble-fumble, hurdle-tumble, ready to rumble" describes wrestling rats. These playful words and phrases appear in large uppercase letters set at a slight angle to represent movement on the page. A straightforward short sentence identifies the animal and its actions. Boxed explanations add information--ungulates are mammals with hooves, for example--and describe what the depicted animals are learning. Playing tug of war, wolves learn fair play. Both elephants and dolphins practice cooperation through play. Other examples are monkeys, ravens, river otters, dolphins, kangaroos, gorillas, and keas. In the backmatter the author explains why readers should play, how they should "play by the rules, like these animals do": stepping away if hurt; apologizing; accepting the apology. Finally, there is a further, fairly dense paragraph about each of the featured animals. Illustrator Powell used paints, handmade textures, and digital techniques to create her appealing images. Most spreads show the animals in a natural scene, but a few show a diverse set of five children and the artist's own black-and-white dog. (On the jacket-flap bio she invites readers to look for him.) A lively addition to the animal shelf. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
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April 1, 2020
PreS-Gr 2-Rhinos, monkeys, elephants, and more describe how they play (and why) in this beautifully illustrated book. Each animal has a page or two to show how they play. The artwork is very colorful and conveys a sense of movement. The last page ties the narrative themes together and points out that children and animals engage in the same activities to encourage brain growth. Back matter features animal games, animal facts, and further reading. The action verbs on each page are called out in a different, large font that are easy for kids to read (race, chase; box-wrestle-tug). Some of the other vocabulary is more advanced, but could be read with help. Each page also features an orange box that describes why the animals are engaged in these specific behaviors. VERDICT A fun way for children to realize that animals play just like them. Great for libraries looking to beef up their animal collections.-Kristin Joy Anderson, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
February 15, 2020
Grades K-3 This colorful nature book considers how and why various animals play. In most cases, a particular type of animal appears on a double-page spread with one or more illustrations and a few phrases of text. Nearby, a small red square carries a sentence or two explaining how those playful activities (tug-of-war, tag, etc.) can strengthen the animals, sharpen their wits, or improve their survival skills. For instance, in four illustrations on a double-page spread, a mother kangaroo boxes with her joey: PUNCH, / KICK, / SMACK-SLAP! Within an adjacent red square, the text explains that play fighting prepares kangaroos for defending themselves against predators and mentions that mother kangaroos let their joeys win. The back matter includes information about the animals featured as well as a further reading list. Fun for sharing one-on-one, the book often shows animals engaged in activities that children enjoy. The lively artwork, created with paints, handmade textures, and digital media, offers energetic scenes of animals in motion. The last double-page spread shows kids playing, too. An inviting choice for animal-lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)