HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DUCK IN A RAINCOAT?

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HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DUCK IN A RAINCOAT?

Name: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DUCK IN A RAINCOAT?
Author: Etta Kaner
ISBN: 978-1-55453-246-9

by Etta Kaner and illustrated by Jeff Szuc ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2009

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What child won’t find it hysterical to imagine a jackrabbit wearing shorts, a cheetah in cleats or a lobster with a helmet? These clever hooks draw children into learning how these animals adapt to live in their environments and serve as mnemonic devices to help them remember the information presented. People, for instance, wear raincoats to stay dry, but ducks use their beaks to spread oil on their feathers from a gland on their backs. Kaner makes her facts accessible to even the youngest listeners—repetition and humor beg for their participation, while the explanations are kept simple and succinct. Szuc’s acrylic artwork matches the tone and purpose of each page exactly. Silly pages feature cartoonish animals, while the scientific pages offer illustrations with more detail and close-up views of the adaptation being explained. A table of contents and tic-tac-toe activity and game board round out the text. A great addition to storytime line-ups (for small groups—it’s relatively wee) and nonfiction shelves. (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2009

ISBN: 978-1-55453-246-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2009

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
DO FIRE ANTS FIGHT FIRES?
by Etta Kaner ; illustrated by Jenna Piechota

- BOOK REVIEW
BEWARE THE BURMESE PYTHONS
by Etta Kaner ; illustrated by Phil Nicholls

- BOOK REVIEW
ROCK? PLANT? ANIMAL?
by Etta Kaner ; illustrated by Brittany Lane

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WHERE DO FROGS COME FROM?

by Alex Vern & illustrated by Alex Vern ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2001

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The lifecycle of the frog is succinctly summarized in this easy reader for children reading at the late first-grade level. In just one or two sentences per page, Vern details the amazing metamorphosis of the frog from egg to tadpole to adult, even injecting a little humor despite the tight word count. (“Watch out fly! Mmmm!) Large, full-color photographs on white backgrounds clearly illustrate each phase of development. Without any mention of laying eggs or fertilization, the title might be a bit misleading, but the development from black dot egg to full-grown frog is fascinating. A simple chart of the three main lifecycle steps is also included. Lifecycles are part of the standard curriculum in the early elementary grades, and this will be a welcome addition to school and public libraries, both for its informational value and as an easy reader. (Nonfiction/easy reader. 5-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001

ISBN: 0-15-216304-2

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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THE BOOK HOG

by Greg Pizzoli ; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2019

There’s nothing especially new here, but the good-natured celebration of books, reading, and libraries will charm fellow...

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A porcine hoarder of books learns to read—and to share.

The Book Hog’s obsession is clear from the start. Short declarative sentences describe his enthusiasm (“The Book Hog loved books”), catalog the things he likes about the printed page, and eventually reveal his embarrassing secret (“He didn’t know how to read”). While the text is straightforward, plenty of amusing visual details will entertain young listeners. A picture of the Book Hog thumbing through a book while seated on the toilet should induce some giggles. The allusive name of a local bookshop (“Wilbur’s”) as well as the covers of a variety of familiar and much-loved books (including some of the author’s own) offer plenty to pore over. And the fact that the titles become legible only after our hero learns to read is a particularly nice touch. A combination of vignettes, single-page illustrations and double-page spreads that feature Pizzoli’s characteristic style—heavy black outlines, a limited palette of mostly salmon and mint green, and simple shapes—move the plot along briskly. Librarians will appreciate the positive portrayal of Miss Olive, an elephant who welcomes the Book Hog warmly to storytime, though it’s unlikely most will be able to match her superlative level of service.

There’s nothing especially new here, but the good-natured celebration of books, reading, and libraries will charm fellow bibliophiles, and the author’s fans will enjoy making another anthropomorphic animal friend. (Picture book. 4-7)