(2) PS Illustrated by Claudia Boldt. Taking its cues from the classic Everyone Poops and later potty-themed picture books, Litwin (the Pete the Cat series) presents a giggle-inducing, nose-wrinkling (and informative) picture book in rhyme about poop. The singable text (link to recording on the copyright page), aimed at young children learning to independently use the toilet, identifies how and where many creatures relieve themselves. From the silly ("Space Martians poop on a faraway star") to the mundane ("A little bluebird just pooped on my car"), the text describes how many animals have their own way of doing things. The pictures establish a lighthearted tone, setting cartoonish creatures and children in vibrantly colored, movement-filled illustrations. Litwin approaches the topic in playful, frank, and encouraging terms that nudge the child listener with every refrain: "But the big boys and big girls are pooping in the potty. / And then we hear a happy sound. / FLUSH!"

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Alexander Vidal. With human development leading to urban sprawl, suburban expansion, and the building of multi-lane highways, wild animals have increasingly limited access to their natural habitats. In Cougar Crossing, the impact of urbanization is represented by a lone mountain lion, named P-22, who resides in Los Angeles. P-22, the "Hollywood cougar," was born in Santa Monica, in an area where all territory was occupied by other cougars; he has no choice but to find space in the city of Los Angeles, and constantly bumps up against human homes, zoos, highways, and diseases. P-22's situation is leveraged to advocate for the building of a cougar bridge, an accessible connector for trapped wild animals to access open spaces. Examples of successful animal bridges, as well as other innovative structures, can be found in Crossings, where Duffield showcases not only wildlife overpasses but also the many creative structures used to get animals safely "over, under, across, [and] through" human-made barriers. Squirrel gliders in Australia and titi monkeys in Costa Rica use rope bridges to cross above highways; spotted salamanders in Massachusetts and blue penguins in New Zealand tunnel under them. Both books employ bold illustrations of the featured animals in unnatural urban environments, using the animal crossings, and safely living in less populated environs. Duffield's book concludes with a spread of "Wildlife Crossings Around the World" and a brief bibliography; back matter in the Pincus includes a timeline of mountain lions in Los Angeles, cougar facts, information about wildlife crossings, identifications of "Wildlife of Southern California," and a bibliography. Review covers these titles: Crossings and Cougar Crossing.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(3) 4-6 In this lively, photo-packed offering, wildlife veterinarian (and eco-fashion model) Wild does more than discuss her work traveling the world to care for animals. Organized by continent, this book features profiles of over eighty species; each entry includes brief facts about an animal's habitat, behavior, diet, and threats, as well as text boxes with details about its care and "Gabby Says" anecdotes. The text also touches on geography, conservation efforts, and different cultural attitudes toward wildlife. Tips for vet training, list of wildlife conservation organizations, an extensive glossary, and an index conclude the volume.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Matthew Trueman. In the blue-green depths of a Pacific Ocean kelp forest, a vast array of plants and animals live in harmonious balance. Seaweed, snails, shrimp, fish, eagles, and the "kings of these forests"--sea otters--make up this ecosystem's food web. Facts about each species wind through the illustrations, which portray adorable (somewhat anthropomorphized) otters in a peaceful ocean environment. But, as Buhrman-Deever warns, this wasn't always the case. In the early twentieth century, fur traders devastated the sea otter population, which led to an overgrowth of sea urchins, who ate the kelp and destroyed the forests. This disequilibrium is portrayed dramatically in Trueman's gauzy underwater illustrations. Over a few page-turns, the forest is taken over by spiky purple urchins that raze the kelp and drive away the animals that depended on it for food and shelter. When laws are passed to protect the otters, balance is restored. In today's kelp forests, "there is just enough seaweed, enough seaweed eaters, and enough meat eaters to help the forests thrive." Back matter provides additional details about the effect of unchecked hunting in the region as well as an update of current sea otter numbers in the wild; a selected bibliography is also appended.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Emily Sutton. Veteran science author Davies (Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth, rev. 11/17) introduces DNA to a young audience by making two initial points. First, all living things grow; and, second, growing means change. Here, Davies reinforces the concept of growth and change with clear examples of seeds and caterpillars that grow into, respectively, flowers and butterflies. After establishing these principles, she then relates them to humans, how they change from a "tiny blob, smaller than a dot" to adults. A set of instructions in our bodies, called the genetic code and created by genes, directs that change. Turning these concepts into concrete examples, Davies explains that it takes four genes to create a nose's shape or one hundred genes to create the color and consistency of hair. She further explains that genes come from biological parents, although not in the same combination for all siblings. Although the illustration of DNA's double helix may be too abstract for the audience, it does not impede the text descriptions and may well act as a cognitive placeholder for a later time. There's a small detour into teleology ("Others grow slowly so they can keep going when times are tough") but this should not interfere with overall meaning. Sutton's watercolor illustrations are particularly strong when depicting growth, showing that some living things grow quickly while others grow slowly, and some become large while others grow into small flora or fauna.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Orodán. With human development leading to urban sprawl, suburban expansion, and the building of multi-lane highways, wild animals have increasingly limited access to their natural habitats. In Cougar Crossing, the impact of urbanization is represented by a lone mountain lion, named P-22, who resides in Los Angeles. P-22, the "Hollywood cougar," was born in Santa Monica, in an area where all territory was occupied by other cougars; he has no choice but to find space in the city of Los Angeles, and constantly bumps up against human homes, zoos, highways, and diseases. P-22's situation is leveraged to advocate for the building of a cougar bridge, an accessible connector for trapped wild animals to access open spaces. Examples of successful animal bridges, as well as other innovative structures, can be found in Crossings, where Duffield showcases not only wildlife overpasses but also the many creative structures used to get animals safely "over, under, across, [and] through" human-made barriers. Squirrel gliders in Australia and titi monkeys in Costa Rica use rope bridges to cross above highways; spotted salamanders in Massachusetts and blue penguins in New Zealand tunnel under them. Both books employ bold illustrations of the featured animals in unnatural urban environments, using the animal crossings, and safely living in less populated environs. Duffield's book concludes with a spread of "Wildlife Crossings Around the World" and a brief bibliography; back matter in the Pincus includes a timeline of mountain lions in Los Angeles, cougar facts, information about wildlife crossings, identifications of "Wildlife of Southern California," and a bibliography. Review covers these titles: Crossings and Cougar Crossing.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(2) PS A parade of animals pooping in their natural habitats leads to human toddlers proudly sitting on the potty. No, this isn't a rehash of Taro Gomi's classic Everyone Poops (1993), though the approach is similar. Rather than competing with that standard bearer, Meisel (My Stinky Summer by S. Bug; rev. 7/20) offers a complementary exploration of animals' toileting habits, all in service of showing young potty trainees that, well, everyone poops. Meisel focuses on where animals do their business: "Monkey poops from a tree. And Squirrel poops from a tree. Grasshopper poops on a leaf. And Bear poops on many leaves." In all, eighteen smiling creatures from a variety of habitats poop on uncluttered pages. A simple line of text accompanies each cheery illustration. After "Jaguar...and Sloth poop in the rainforest," a double-page spread featuring toddlers (most holding toy animals) asks, "Where do you poop?" The following spread provides the answer in text and art. "You poop here!" shows happy kids on toilets and potties. Two pages at the end briefly explain what poop is and provide a few crowd-pleasing "Fun Facts"; e.g., "Elephants can poop as much as three hundred pounds a day." Everyone Poops will always be number one, but You Poop Here is a solid number two.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) K-3 Munro takes readers on a virtual field trip to Caribbean coral reefs, showcasing the "rich diversity of life" found there. Full-bleed, double-page-spread illustrations (and a bonus gatefold, unseen) surround readers with ocean creatures in their natural setting, mimicking a snorkeling or diving expedition. Descriptions of animals (from fish to crustaceans to mollusks; from the spotted scorpionfish to the batwing coral crab to the reef squid) appear on each page, creating a near field guide. Because multiple animals appear on every spread, readers must examine each description and then match it with one of the creatures in the illustrations. Thus youngsters become inquisitive partners, rather than passive observers, in the aquatic experience. That Munro depicts the animals at their actual size, and with colorful inks that mirror the habitat, adds to the realism. All the creatures are identified in the main text, and an appended legend also names all the fish that are shown there. Endnotes emphasize the importance of coral reefs and the threats to their existence; back matter also includes a list of related readings and websites, a glossary, an index, and a map of "coral reefs of the world."

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Julie Benbassat. Over sixty unusually named animals are grouped by such descriptors as "magical," "fierce," and "delicious." In addition to the usual suspects (naked mole rat), plenty of less-well-known species--including the long-wattled umbrellabird and striped pyjama squid--broaden the book's appeal. Illustrations and photographs enliven the pages, which include solid information about each animal's habitat, behaviors, and physiology. Discussion about species naming protocol will be appreciated by interested readers. Conservation organization websites are listed; a glossary is appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 For some animal species, there are evolutionary advantages to social groupings. "Packs, herds, huddles, and pods. Together, we are better." Salyer introduces young readers to many of the creative words used to describe animal aggregations (an army of frogs, a flamboyance of flamingos, an ­implausibility of wildebeest) but also explains just what those groupings provide: care for their young (elephants, lions); communication to locate food and prey (bats, bees); and safety in numbers (zebras, mongooses). The richly colored illustrations portray the multitudes, often oriented to seem to flow past the observer, or to highlight how animals clustered together make it hard to identify individuals or distinguish them from their backgrounds. The final double-page spread connects the book's message to a familiar social animal--humans--as people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities happily congregate in a village square. "All together...we are better!" Notes at the end of the book identify the exact species portrayed in the illustrations, and caution that many of these species are under threat of extinction. Also appended with a brief bibliography.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(3) 4-6 Translated by George Newman. Illustrated by Adrienne Barman. From the Big Bang through the "Time of the Humans," this breakneck ride through Earth's history is divided into six major epochs (e.g., "The Paleozoic," "The Cenozoic"). Each double-page spread focuses generally on one or two geological or evolutionary developments, with a chatty paleontologist, "a storyteller," and two kids providing information and banter. The comic-panel illustrations are relatively uncluttered and easy to follow. Because humans are such a recent presence (evolutionarily speaking), most of the book's discussion focuses on events from 4.6 billion to twelve thousand years ago--giving readers a good sense of the scale of time (a "geologic time scale" is helpful). A glossary and index are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Science Superheroes series. Scientist and conservationist Cramp presents a comprehensive overview of oceanography and marine biology, including a full chapter on sharks--the focus of her research. High-quality photographs, simple but effective experiments, and profiles of other marine researchers enhance the text. Occasional comics featuring Captain Aquatica (Cramp's alter-ego) and sidekick Finn the hammerhead shark open each chapter. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) K-3 Judge's latest volume focuses on the places that mammals inhabit as they bear and raise their young. The sheltered spaces are roughly organized by their purpose or location; each spread features three species, accompanied by paragraphs highlighting how the natural environment contributes to the protection and care of the newborns. Animal families are front-and-center in the soft-colored, idyllic illustrations that include characteristic details about the creatures and their habitats. Websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) PS Bespectacled babies explore the seashore and ocean, with an emphasis on marine animals at different ocean depths and their adaptations. The babies float around in scuba gear, making cartoon speech-balloon comments. Even though the "nerd" label and glasses for anyone interested in science is a bit stereotypical, this is a lively introduction to science for the youngest readers, who are encouraged to "stay curious!"

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mike Shiell. Where there's a stink, there's bound to be something disgusting--that's the charm of this book about the olfactory senses of humans and animals. From rotting flesh to poop to skunk spray, readers learn about many aspects of smell. Cartoony caricature illustrations add to the kid-appeal. The fonts of the chapter titles and subject headings are close enough to make the organization a little confusing. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(2) PS Illustrated by Kelsey Oseid. Following the format of Whose Poop Is THAT? (rev. 3/17), Lunde poses the title question seven times about seven different animals in a series of four-page sequences, inviting readers to guess the makers of various footprints and impressions. Each print, rendered in shades of black and brown on a white background, is centered prominently on the right-hand page. A clue for identification comes via the accompanying text, which emphasizes the motions or actions employed to produce the print ("It was made by running on snow"; "It was made by standing in soft mud"). Additional hints to each creature's identity are found on left-hand pages, with glimpses of an ear, tail, nose, etc., edging into the picture. For the reveal, illustrations of mountain goats, wallaroos, snowshoe hares, snakes, flamingos, chimpanzees, and even a dinosaur are accompanied by information about what part of them made the prints (variously: feet, bodies, knuckles) and the ways their physiologies allow the animals to move or balance; the seven examples are carefully chosen to represent the relationships between morphology and function. The book ends with a look at the various prints people can make with their footwear, connecting familiar human experiences with their animal equivalents.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Photographs by Roger Wood & Logan Wood. Montgomery and readers join a group led by an eminent scientist to follow wildebeest migrations through Tanzania and Kenya. Montgomery's detailed narrative provides explanations of the science of migration and the complex relationships among life and land in the Serengeti ecosystem. The photos skillfully capture sweeping landscapes, the region's diverse species, and the people who live nearby and who study the animals. Back matter includes advice for how to support conservation efforts. Maps. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Betsy Bowen. In 1882, surveyors mapping northern Minnesota made a mistake; subsequently an old growth forest was ignored until 1958. The protected forest still exists today in Chippewa National Forest. Root includes surveying details and the ecology of such pine forests that once covered the northern U.S. Bowen's painted backgrounds and survey-notebook inserts capture the texture and colors of fresh-cut pine or yellowing maps. Substantial back matter serves as a field guide. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gilbert Ford. From dung beetles to rotten logs to that weird stuff in the back of your refrigerator, this book covers all kinds of decomposition; there's also a chapter that relates what happens when there is no decomposition, specifically in overflowing landfills. The tone is light but respectful, and plenty of real-world examples and illustrations will keep readers engaged. Hands-on activities are scattered through the text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) YA Illustrated by Teagan White. Darwin's groundbreaking argument for biological evolution is made accessible for today's teens, with edits for language and length and the removal of now-inaccurate ideas. After a brief biographical introduction, Stefoff's adapted text follows the structure of Darwin's original but is augmented with well-captioned photographs and diagrams, helpful annotations, and sidebars that explain the work of his contemporaries and today's modern understandings. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford