Fish Farts

May 1, 2024
Welcome to the wonderful world of animal slime, poop, gas, vomit, and gross parenting practices. Setting out with the worthy purpose of wowing and disgusting young readers, Settel dishes up 18 cases of nature at its nastiest--from slimy slugs and nose-picking capuchin monkeys to Komodo dragons, which swing the intestines of their victims around to clear out the poop before chowing down. Along the way, she shows a knack for slipping in facts as likely to intrigue as revolt, such as the many useful purposes mucus serves in our own bodies, how herring use "fart pops" (up to 40 a second) to communicate, and why giraffe tongues are blue. And while scenes of tiny mites crawling into a hummingbird's nose or a Darwin's frog dad spitting out the younglings he's been storing in his mouth may cause a bit of churn in more sensitive stomachs, in general Donovan tones down the gross in her brightly hued animal portraits enough to elicit more cooing than spewing. A long glossary at the end expands on the physical, chemical, and biological processes mentioned in the narrative in unusual detail. A crowd-pleasing way to deliver some substantial (info) dumps. (Informational picture book. 7-11)

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May 15, 2024
Grades K-3 Settel details 18 animals with unusual adaptations that enhance their survival. Grouping subjects into loose categories, she highlights communication methods (herring farts facilitate group safety), the many uses for feces (sloth moths lay eggs in sloth poop), escaping enemies (bombardier beetles make toads puke), strange abilities (a python's stomach grows when it eats a large animal), and creepy capabilities (flower mites crawl up hummingbird nostrils, hitching a ride to a new plant). Each animal is introduced on a double-page spread that includes text, diagrams, large illustrations, and a sidebar noting other examples of similar adaptations. Donovan's digital art is brightly colored and does a good job depicting important points from the text, such as a giraffe's blue tongue (the color acts as a sunscreen) wrapped around a branch. The gross-out factor is prominent throughout; a cutaway image of a male frog holding froglets in his vocal sacs will certainly fascinate, as will ants swarming a robin to kill mites with their formic acid. Appended with a glossary, this should intrigue borrowers and lead to further investigation.

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October 4, 2024

Gr 2-6-Get ready to dive into the "sticky, stinky, and slimy" world of animal adaptations. This fascinating book is packed with intriguing facts about the weird and wonderful ways animals survive and thrive. This book showcases the incredible diversity of animal tricks and traps, from the titular fish farts to a Komodo dragon covering itself in poop. Settel's engaging writing makes complex concepts accessible and entertaining, while Donovan's vibrant digital illustrations bring the gross and amazing facts to life. What sets this volume apart is its ability to balance humor with education, making it an absolute delight for readers of all ages. Whether you're a curious kid or a trivia enthusiast, this book is perfect for anyone looking to impress their friends with random facts or expand their animal knowledge. VERDICT With its unique blend of science, humor, and visual appeal, this is a must-read for anyone curious about the natural world.-Jessica Clark

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