Polish Chicken

January 1, 2018
Grades K-3 The urgent question, What's this weird but cute animal? opens each volume of the aptly named Weirder and Cuter series. Polish Chicken casts a spotlight on the 1980s rockers of the poultry world, imparting how that outlandish spray of feathers atop the chickens' heads is possible. The high-interest subjects of this series will effortlessly grab young readers, but the books have the added bonus of being well designed and informative. Double-page spreads succinctly introduce topics, such as where an animal lives and its defining features, diet, and common predators. Colorful photos enliven every spread with full-page and spot images, and each book features a clear depiction of comparative size and fascinating factoids in addition to the main text. The closing pages offer examples of other weird, related animals (monkeys, lizards, etc.) and a picture glossary. A solid, attractive series that youngsters will love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2017

Gr 2-4-With a few sentences per page and a variety of well-chosen photos, these books introduce animals that will be new to many readers. Children's books on axolotls, snub-nosed monkeys, and Polish chickens are particularly hard to find. The text provides general data on physiology, behavior, and life cycles while also highlighting unique features, such as the platypus's hunting techniques and the healing ability of the axolotl. Related species are noted and sometimes pictured, and there are images and brief descriptions of more "weird animals" at the end of each book. Visual support is effective: each book opens with an impressive two-page photograph; subsequent pages include large pictures, inset images, and size comparison diagrams, with captions and labels included where needed. VERDICT Strong appeal for curious kids interested in unusual creatures and to fill subject holes in more comprehensive animal collections.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.