WHO’S AT HOME?

Strikingly detailed illustrations and some lesser-known animals make this more than just another lift-the-flap book. In habitats ranging from jungle and desert to woodland and coral reef, Silver places eight animals in their natural surroundings and challenges young children to guess who they are from her riddles: “I have four legs and a long bushy tail. I live high up inside a hollow tree. What am I?” The tricky answer to this one? A monkey—the jungle in the background is an important clue. Other featured animals are the puffin, owl, bat, otter, snake, octopus and tiger. The illustrations are rich in both color and detail, accurately reflecting the animals’ habitats and inviting the reader to enter into them. While some spreads give readers a visual clue as to the identity of the dweller, most will really test children’s animal-identification skills. Backmatter consists of a paragraph of further information about each animal, which, except for the owl, are specifically identified. The small trim makes this exploration of habitats nicely intimate. (Picture book. 3-6)