Porcupine's picnic Who eats what?

It's a beautiful day, and Porcupine just found the perfect spot for a picnic, where he can enjoy some clover. When Koala wants to join him, Porcupine offers some of his clover, but Koala politely declines and starts eating some eucalyptus leaves. Gradually, more than a dozen animals arrive to share the picnic spot and enjoy their favorite foods, and Rosenthal showcases a variety of animal diets in the process. Most of the creatures are omnivores or herbivores, but things start to look ominous when Weasel shows up craving mice, and the picnic comes to an abrupt halt when Tiger comes on the scene and gazes hungrily at the picnic attendees. Although most of these animals would never meet in the wild, there's plenty of information to be gleaned from these pages, and the cartoonish, anthropomorphized creatures with big eyes and friendly faces will help the smattering of facts (explained further in an author's note) go down easy. Cheerful artwork and a narrative with plenty of repetition make this a great pick for group story time.--Greengoss, Annie Copyright 2017 Booklist

PreS-Gr 1-Porcupine is excited to find the perfect spot for a picnic. As he begins to munch his clover, along comes Koala, who asks to join him. Porcupine is delighted and offers Koala some clover, but Koala wants eucalyptus leaves instead. Next comes Squirrel, who joins the picnic but would rather eat acorns; then Giraffe, who prefers tree leaves; Goat, who fancies alfalfa; and a host of other animals, all with their own choices of nourishment. In the end, the last guest to arrive at the picnic makes an unsettling food choice that totally disrupts the party. Colorful, amusing, and informative, with a surprising, slightly jarring ending, this is great as a read-aloud or read-alone. There are 20 different animals named in the story, and the accurate food preference for each is given. In an author's note, Rosenthal explains that the animals mentioned would never all be found together in the wild, as they are from different regions. She also sheds light on what herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores are and which animals in the narrative belong in each category. The large font and full-page illustrations are appealing, and the animals are warm and friendly. The pictures contribute to the festive and happy feel of the tale; even the endpapers are part of the fun! The conclusion may frighten some readers, but nothing grisly or sad happens. VERDICT An entertaining and educational animal selection, with an edge, for the youngest readers.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.