Flying Frogs and Walking Fish

Starred review from March 21, 2016
In another of their expert examinations of biodiversity, frequent husband-and-wife collaborators Jenkins and Page explore the ways nearly 50 creatures move on land, in the sea, and underwater. Pages highlighting the unexpected movements of single animals (an octopus walking across the sea floor, a swimming elephant) alternate with ones looking at how other animals approach the same methods (a red kangaroo “uses its tail as a fifth leg,” while the slow-on-land sloth “is right at home in the water”). As usual, Jenkins’s collages capture the animals’ distinctive characteristics with precision and attention to detail, while a closing spread offers notable tidbits about the animals within. Ages 4–7.

March 1, 2016
Tackling the hows and whys of six kinds of animal movement, Jenkins and Page present 46 creatures in paper collages against crisp white backgrounds. The format is clean and simple. A double-page spread introduces a type of movement and depicts a single animal. A cogent paragraph provides reasons for the adaptation. A common octopus is shown walking on the seafloor on two of its eight legs. Walking "doesn't take a lot of energy, and the slow pace makes it easy to watch for food or danger." The next spread presents six walkers--some of them surprising. The red-lipped batfish and sea pig also walk on the seafloor. A fishing spider can walk on water's surface, and a red kangaroo uses its tail as "a fifth leg." The narrative section about "flying" animals might more properly have been termed "gliding." The text does distinguish between "true fliers" and "gliders"--animals that "sail through the air, but only for a limited distance." However, only one of the section's seven animals (the rhinoceros beetle) is capable of true flight, and common names like "flying snake," "flying frog," and "flying fish" further muddy the concept. Layered papers--cut, torn, and precisely chosen for color and texture--form creatures and occasional bits of habitat. Good for browsing--with the potential for launching readers into further investigation. (glossary, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

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Starred review from February 1, 2016

K-Gr 3-Every living creature requires a way to travel from one place to another, as showcased in this informative exploration of animal mobility. Jenkins and Page highlight a variety of animals, both familiar (frogs, dogs, and elephants) and unusual (cormorants, sugar gliders, and mudskippers). The engaging narrative is organized by type of locomotion, such as walking, leaping, swimming, climbing, and flying. Two spreads comprise each section. In the first spread, the authors introduce a particular type of movement by explaining why and how a specific animal moves in a unique or unexpected way. The next spread expands upon the concept with further details about other animals. For example, the leaping lizard is followed by a jumping spider, a penguin that rockets from the water, a bounding springbok, and a ring-tailed lemur that vaults from tree to tree. Set against white space, the collage illustrations portray the animals in a subdued palette of earth tones that enhances the natural representation of each creature. They jump, slither, and float across the pages, and the layout of the accompanying text further emphasizes the sense of movement. Back matter provides additional information. VERDICT This fine overview is destined to be a popular addition to any science collection.-Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016
Grades K-3 Have you ever seen a leaping lemur, a tumbling toad, a jet-propelled jellyfish, or a flying snake? These are but a few creatures featured in Jenkins and Page's latest nonfiction read on animals and the peculiar ways they travel from place to place. The award-winning husband-and-wife team neatly categorize animal locomotion into seven distinct groups and then introduce each section with a common animal and basic information regarding its typical movement. The sections are then subdivided into lesser-known species and the reasons behind their modes of transport. For example, one section opens with a rolling spider, followed by a two-page spread of animals that travel by whirling (tiger beetle larva), tumbling (pebble toad), somersaulting (mantis shrimp), and rolling (hedgehog, armadillo lizard, and pangolin). With a collection of more than 40 species, this spectacular arrangement of creatures is delicately rendered in Jenkins' signature, eye-catching collage style. Closing with a list of categories and its accompanying critters, this is highly educational and a treat to behold.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)