ARCTIC ANIMALS

Six arctic animals are introduced in this stylized lift-the-flap board book.

Each left-hand page asks, “Who’s that?” and follows it with a few clues: “She is covered in WHITE FEATHERS, has YELLOW EYES, and can turn her head ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND.” The right-hand page adds a visual clue, allowing readers a glimpse of the animal in question. Lift the die-cut gatefold flap, and meet “A SNOWY OWL!” The other animals in the book are a seal, a fox, a walrus, a polar bear, and a reindeer. Some other characters make an appearance on the different pages, including squirrels, a snowshoe hare, birds, fish, and a boy and his dog. In the final spread all are united at “A POLAR PARTY!” The illustrations are rendered in different shades of blue and green, conveying an appropriately cold feeling, with just enough yellow to give a pop to the whole. The book can be explored at different levels, from just naming the animals with very young readers to the challenge of guessing the animals with the older ones. And all will enjoy turning the flaps of this sturdily constructed book.

Beautiful, smart, and entertaining.