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PRESCHOOL
Saito, Maki

Animals Brag About Their Bottoms

32 pp. | Greystone Kids | September, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-1-77164-710-6 $16.95 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-77164-711-3 $16.95
(2) PS Translated by Brian Bergstrom. A concept book (of sorts) about shapes, sizes, patterns, and animal traits is mostly an entertaining excuse to show a series of animal tushies--beautifully illustrated in Saito's pencil collage, stenciled paintings, and dyed paper art. The double-page spreads feature plenty of white space and no background details--the bottoms are front and center. Beginning with a bunny's petite derriere ("My bottom is such a round bottom--and so cute, don't you think?"), viewers see a wide variety of creatures' backsides (Hippo's reply to Bunny: "I have a round bottom too. So round--and so-o-o big!"). We see stripy butts (tiger, zebra, okapi), "heart-shaped bottoms" (deer), colorful creatures whose "bottoms are the same color as [their] faces" (Japanese macaque, mandrill), and more; a list at the end identifies the animals. The text is light, conversational, and funny; and the painterly patoots are lovely in their texture and shading. The grays especially are multi-toned and incorporate blends of blues, purples, reds, and pinks. A positive-body-image reading of the story isn't too much of a stretch; by the end (ha!) we've learned a little about these remarkable creatures, as the text concludes: "Everyone's proud of their bottoms! Such wonderful bottoms--each and every one!"
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

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