WHO POOPED ON ME?

In this picture book, an unappealing blob falls out of the sky right on a lizard’s head.

A lizard sleeps on a branch when all of a sudden there’s a splat. A mysterious pink goop drops on his head, prompting the reptile to point a finger at a number of suspects and ask them: “Did you poop on me?” The lizard approaches a worm, a fish, and a flower, all of whom respond in the negative by pointing out that they poop elsewhere or don’t poop at all. The lizard even turns to the audience, breaking the fourth wall in a way that is sure to leave readers giggling. At a loss and bombarded by even more pink stuff from the sky, the lizard tries to hide the unsightly accident, but a nearby giraffe, snail, and gorilla notice anyway. Luckily for the reptile, it turns out the ooze might not be poop after all—or is it? This quirky work, Cunliffe’s fifth picture book after Whoever Heard of a Flying Bird? (2020), makes for an engaging toddler and preschool read-aloud. Not only does the story sneak in some facts about the animals’ homes, it also appeals to the nearly universal, child-approved urge to make potty jokes. The tale’s cliffhanger ending gives young readers the chance to explore their imaginations to decide what really happened. Barrera’s illustrations are bold and colorful, excelling with their larger-than-life portrayals of the lizard’s many pouty facial expressions.

A riotous reptile tale that’s perfect for animal lovers.