A cheerful, classroom-ready collection that blends humor, zoology, and art.
Austin’s lively collection of animal poems pairs silly rhymes with student illustrations to spark children’s curiosity about the natural world.
The author introduces young readers to a menagerie of creatures, from the familiar bison and beaver to the exotic axolotl and Egyptian uromastyx. Each animal is given a short, four-line stanza in an ABCB rhyme scheme accompanied by a drawing created by a middle school student. The effect is playful and eclectic, offering both zoological tidbits and whimsical humor. “The Roadrunner has / zygodactyl toes / which means they go / to and fro,” one poem explains, tucking vocabulary lessons into the light verse. Others lean into comic exaggeration, like one describing the Kingbird, who “may be small / but oh-so regal,” or a paean to the eel, whose skin “crackles blue.” The poems vary in tone from factual to fanciful, and while some verses provide straightforward descriptions, others stretch into sillier territory that children are likely to repeat aloud. The inclusion of unusual animals, such as the Paedophryne amauensis frog (one of the world’s smallest vertebrates), adds novelty and encourages discovery beyond the bounds of the average picture book. The rhymes occasionally strain for their rhythm, but the brevity of the stanzas keeps the pace snappy and accessible for early readers. The illustrations, drawn by students of Nellie Coffman Middle School, bring a messy, raw, and endearing energy to the pages, making the book feel like a genuine collaboration between the author and the classroom. The illustrations lend the book particular value as a teaching tool—children can see their peers’ artwork published and are invited to contribute their own work in the closing “Do It Yourself” section. This activity, which prompts kids to invent poems and sketches for animals not yet included, transforms the volume into an interactive workbook and positions it as a fine resource for teachers seeking literacy projects. Austin’s background as a television producer and poet is evident in his flair for entertainment, although his greatest achievement here may be inspiring children to view poetry as playful rather than intimidating.
A cheerful, classroom-ready collection that blends humor, zoology, and art.Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9798890617149
Page Count: 82
Publisher: Newman Springs
Review Posted Online: Oct. 9, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on.
Sharpson offers so-fish-ticated readers a heads up about the true terror of the seas.
The title says it all. Our unseen narrator is just fine with other animals: mammals. Reptiles. Even birds. But fish? Don’t trust them! First off, the rules always seem to change with fish. Some live in fresh water; some reside in salt water. Some have gills, while others have lungs. You can never see what they’re up to, since they hang out underwater, and they’re always eating those poor, innocent crabs. Soon, the narrator introduces readers to Jeff, a vacant-eyed yellow fish—but don’t be fooled! Jeff’s “the craftiest fish of all.” All fish are, apparently, hellbent on world domination, the narrator warns. “DON’T TRUST FISH!” Finally, at the tail end, we get a sly glimpse of our unreliable narrator. Readers needn’t be ichthyologists to appreciate Sharpson’s meticulous comic timing. (“Ships always sink at sea. They never sink on land. Isn’t that strange?”) His delightful text, filled to the brim with jokes that read aloud brilliantly, pairs perfectly with Santat’s art, which shifts between extreme realism and goofy hilarity. He also fills the book with his own clever gags (such as an image of Gilligan’s Island’s S.S. Minnow going down and a bottle of sauce labeled “Surly Chik’n Srir’racha’r”).
A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 8, 2025
ISBN: 9780593616673
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
PERSPECTIVES
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
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