Odd Bods

January 1, 2021
Photos of 11 unusual-looking animals are accompanied by statements about the utility of their odd features. From thorn bugs in the Americas to saiga antelopes in Eurasia, this album introduces strikingly unusual-looking members of the animal kingdom from around the world. Singling out animals that "look freaky" is a dubious premise for children's attention, but author Murphy points out that "these odd features also make them super survivors." Spread by spread she presents close-up photographs that fill a page and a half; a single-sentence caption and a short boxed paragraph explaining the odd feature's utility appear in the remaining space. The mammals--dugong, aye-aye, naked mole rat, narwhal, and the aforementioned antelope--may be animals children have heard of. Leafy sea dragons sometimes turn up in aquariums. But the others--the brightly colored thorn bug gracing the cover, a sea slug called a glaucus, an Australian reptile called a thorny devil, and the African shoebill (a large, grumpy-looking bird)--are likely to surprise. The photographs, from stock sources, are wonderfully attention-getting. There seems no need for the exclamation marks that end every descriptive sentence and most of the explanatory paragraphs. The information given is limited but sound, supported with additional facts and suggestions for further reading and web research in the backmatter. Not a necessary purchase--but an easy sell. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2021
Grades K-3 While humans may bemoan their pointy, knobby, or flabby body parts, some animals use these attributes to great advantage, from finding food to avoiding predators to surviving extreme weather conditions. In this informational picture book, author and zoologist Murphy introduces 11 animals with "odd bods" from around the world through double-page spreads with large text and a colorful, full-page photograph of the animal in its natural environment. Bolded text also highlights the animal's name and the benefit of its distinctive feature. For instance, if you're a thorn bug that lives on a prickly plant, "a sharp spike can help you hide!" Other animals, like the naked mole rat, use their unusually big teeth to dig underground burrows, while the bright mouth of the red-lipped batfish signals potential mates in the dim light of the seafloor. A concluding section provides more information about each animal, including its classification, size, life span, conservation status, and a fun fact. A map depicts the animals' range. High-interest content and visuals will appeal to reluctant readers and animal lovers alike.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2021

Gr 1-3-This title clearly explains how different animal adaptations (such as having a sharp spike, a broad snout, or an extra-long middle finger) help animals survive. Large, colorful photos of each animal and an explanation of how the adaptation is useful are included. The back matter contains additional information, a map showing where each animal lives, and references to consult for further research. However, the back matter, titled "More Odd Facts," contains facts about the spotlighted animals, but there is a lack of accompanying photos that would make it easy for a child to connect this material with the information described in the main text. VERDICT This book provides plenty of information about animal adaptations and how these adaptations help the animals survive.-Myra Zarnowski, City Univ. of New York

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
Murphy introduces young readers to eleven animals with unusual physical attributes, focusing on how the species' appearance helps it survive. Each double-page spread features a striking full-bleed photo and a caption-like sentence: "Bright red lips can help you to stand out from the crowd!" The animal's name and a few salient details appear in a text box: the red-lipped batfish's "remarkable mouth may help" the creature alert potential mates, "Hey look! I'm over here!" This is an engaging glimpse at some lesser-known species, including the thorn bug, aye-aye, thorny devil, shoebill, and saiga antelope. More information about the animals (including scientific name, geographic distribution, habitat, diet, life span, size, and a "fun fact") are appended, as are lists of recommended books and websites.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)