The Truth About Elephants

November 1, 2018

K-Gr 2-This latest installment of "The Truth About" books opens with the punny boast that it contains "tons of information" about Earth's largest land animal. And indeed, it covers the basics of elephant types, traits, habitats, and behaviors. The true appeal of the book lies in its accessible style; librarians could use it as a playful counterpoint to Katherine Roy's comprehensive How To Be an Elephant. Eaton's work is unapologetically geared toward recreational nonfiction readers. Fans of the series will be pleased to find all of its usual motifs, including expressive cartoon illustrations, speech bubbles ("I get snacky at night," mumbles one elephant through a mouthful of leaves), easily digestible facts, and a wisecracking gallery of animals (this time featuring a manatee, a dugong, and a hyrax who form a jazz trio). Before concluding with a single spread of back matter, Eaton reminds readers that while humans pose the greatest threat to elephants, people can also help by reading, teaching, and speaking out on elephants' behalf. VERDICT A characteristically charming and browsable addition to the series. Consider for readers looking for a bit of information and humor.-Rebecca Honeycutt, NoveList, Durham, NC

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
In his fourth book exploring "seriously funny facts about your favorite animals," Eaton delivers "tons of information" about elephants.Each spread provides essential and engaging facts on subtopics such as habitat, anatomy, diet, family structure, and behavior. One particularly effective spread shows the physiological differences between Asian elephants and African elephants, using arrows to point out differences between their trunks, toenails, ears, backs, and heads. With levity that never feels flippant, Eaton acknowledges that elephants' "biggest threat wears shoes" and devotes a spread to the many different ways humans threaten elephants' survival. The next spread encourages readers to consider ways that they can effect change: "The threats are enormous, but you can begin to help by reading about elephants, and then teaching others and speaking out. / Because elephants are worth it!" Excellent pacing and design result in a compelling read enhanced by digitally colored pen-and-ink cartoon illustrations filled with bold lines and bright colors. Talking animals and a brown-skinned child with a curly black ponytail provide light commentary on the facts presented in the main text, and readers may particularly enjoy the jazz (and joke) trio made up of the elephant's closest living relatives. The final spread contains a dossier of illustrated photographs and notes and a list of additional resources for "calves" and "cows and bulls."Like the rest of the series, charming, informative, and effective. (Informational picture book. 4-9)

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November 15, 2018
Preschool-G This is another irreverent offering from Eaton, who presents an enjoyable combination of basic and little-known facts about elephants (his previous child-pleasing targets have been dolphins, bears, and hippos). Humorous, cartoonlike illustrations, straightforward text, lots of inserts, and snarky asides from a manatee, hyrax, and dugong jazz trio keep the information flowing, whether presented as random tidbits (elephants eat 18 hours a day) or double-page informational spreads (i.e., how elephants use their trunks, a comparison of African and Indian varieties). Amid the bad jokes and general hilarity, plenty of curriculum content sneaks in: evolution, habitat, food, gestation, parenting, lifespan, predators, and endangered status, succinctly summarized at the end. The illustrations are neatly labeled and reinforce the text, new vocabulary is seamlessly introduced within context, and there are suggestions for further research. Readers will effortlessly access all this new knowledge to impress family members and friends. As with Eaton's previous forays, this is sure to be an oft-requested crowd-pleaser.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)