TWILIGHT HUNT

A screech-owl parent on the hunt has a hard night in this demonstration of how animals use camouflage or disguise to escape danger. Done in a mix of linocut, paint and collage, the close-up illustrations show a succession of rough tree trunks, intertwined grasses and speckled rocks—on all of which, as sharp-eyed observers will notice, dozens of spiders, insects, frogs and other creatures are hidden. Missing all of these, but finally snatching a Luna moth, the screech owl herself then has to freeze against a mottled trunk to avoid the attention of a much larger great horned owl. Along with a general discussion of “crypsis” in nature, Oliver appends visual keys with specific identifications to all of the wildlife in this eye-opening introduction. A good prelude for a field trip of the outdoorsy sort. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-8)