Ehlert focuses her collage talents on creatures that sport spots or stripes. She starts out with fish, moves on to amphibians, wanders over to birds and ends with mammals (except for the stray butterfly or lizard that pops up in unexpected places). Each featured critter is glossed by a verse, such as “Turtle swimming— / spots are revealed. / Turtle sunning— / spots are concealed.” The rhyme varies in import (and ease), revealing how the markings give an advantage, simply observing or sharing an interesting fact about the animal, as in this rhyme about the spotted owl: “Unless there’s a girl owl / and he’s in pursuit, / a boy owl generally / won’t give a hoot.” The facts will be appreciated by animal lovers and science fans alike, and the eye-catching, colorful, textured images provide plenty of visual interest. As always, the author-illustrator presents a piece full of life and creative energy, but this thematic mélange of approaches lacks cohesion, resulting in a book that’s just not as solid as some of her previous hits. (Picture book. 2-5)
