Shell, Beak, Tusk

February 6, 2017
Assisted by striking nature photography, Heos (Blood, Bullets, and Bones) succinctly explains adaptation and convergent evolution, describing how dissimilar animals have developed common characteristics for survival. The featured animals appear in close-range photographs that highlight the traits being discussed. Both a duck and a duck-billed platypus use their bills to eat (“A bill is for slurping”), even though the duck is a bird and the platypus a mammal. For turtles and snails, “a shell is for hiding,” and fireflies and anglerfish use light to draw attention. Heos frequently notes the animals’ habitats (“Though they share a spiky defense system, the porcupine and echidna live on opposite sides of the world”), emphasizing the remarkable ways these traits develop across species and in entirely different settings. A somewhat abrupt conclusion is a sole off note in an eye-opening look at evolution. Ages 6–9.

March 1, 2017
Heos (I, Fly, 2015, etc.) introduces convergent evolution by pairing different animals with similar physical traits.The big, close-up animal photos here exert plenty of visual appeal (though the octopus opposite the parrot is viewed from an angle that hides its beak, the feature under discussion), and the author makes two worthy points. First, similar features can evolve in species that are geographically separate (at least today); and they can not only have similar uses, but sometimes, such as in the black-and-white patterns of penguins and orcas, serve very different agendas. She does not, however, either demonstrate that her selected traits evolved truly independently or explain why animals (and plants, come to that) that share similar foods and environments show such diversity of form. In fact her insistence that porcupines and echidnas, rabbits and bilbys, anteaters and aardvarks--all of which are mammals, after all--or even turtles and snails are "not related," "not even distant cousins" seems as dogmatic as her initial claim that "only helpful" traits evolve. Neither is, in a broad sense, true. An important aspect of evolutionary theory--though not presented with the author's usual clarity of thought. (bibliography, index) (Informational picture book. 8-10)

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May 1, 2017

Gr 1-4-Evolution encourages the development of traits that help animals to eat and avoid being eaten. Convergent evolution is the development of the same traits by different species, often located geographically far apart, in order to survive in their specific environment. On facing pages, animals with beaks, shells, or tusks are paired with others that have exhibited similar adaptations. For example, both the shell of a turtle (a reptile) and that of a snail (a mollusk) protect the more tender parts of the animals' bodies from harm. Black-and-white camouflage helps the penguin escape detection from the orca and allows the orca to sneak up on the penguin. A parrot and an octopus both use beaks to get at their food. High-quality, full-color, close-up photographs illustrate the concepts discussed and spotlight some more unusual animals from a variety of geographic regions. Heos suggests the possibility of discovering many other animals that arose through convergent evolution. VERDICT A beautiful presentation of a complicated concept, and a great selection for classroom use.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2017
Grades K-3 In this informative introduction to the curiosities of convergent evolutionwhen animals adapt the same traits separately Heos showcases the shared shells, spines, tongues, and tusks of unrelated animals worldwide. After an opening overview of adaptive traits, Heos presents adaptations of 10 discrete duos in a series of two-page spreads. Leading with spines, the spiky defense system of both porcupines (rodents) and echidnas (monotremes native to Australia), Heos details the development of wings in birds (direct descendants of dinosaurs) and bats (mammals), the luring lights of fireflies and anglerfish, and the bills and webbed feet of ducks and platypuses. The accessible text, peppered with engaging appeals to readersfor example, our ears, like a bat's wings, are made of cartilageand fun facts aplenty, is further enhanced by glossy, brightly colored pages and up-close photos of discussed animals. With a concluding rundown of the persistence of repeated traits, a bibliography, and an index, this fine first glimpse at evolution is sure to spark the interest and imaginations of little ones far and wide.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)