Whose bones? An animal guessing game

PreS-Gr 1--This informational, foldout board book is for preschool and early elementary readers. Brewster's illustrations of interesting and familiar animals will engage readers. Each page (and subsequent foldout) details the bones and anatomical structure of an animal while also providing fascinating facts. The first page displays bones and asks readers to guess the animal's identity. The next page reveals its name. Budding archaeologists or young children with curious minds will love learning about the anatomy of their favorite animals, such as blue whales and chimpanzees. The text is written in an accessible type; the letters will look familiar to children starting school. Boldface terms, including skull and vertebrae, highlight key scientific vocabulary. Additionally, Balkan uses interactive phrases ("Let's guess" and "Who am I?") to create an interactive experience. This title could be used for independent reading or read-alouds. Diagrams, labels, and bullet points are included throughout. Balkan has also written a similar book for older elementary readers, Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals. VERDICT Recommended for libraries and families looking to expand their nonfiction collections for young children.--Kelly Finan Richards, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD

Using verbal clues, readers guess which skeleton belongs to which animal. The book opens with an introduction to the topic via T. rex and human skeletons. On the verso of each subsequent spread, a clear image of a skeleton appears in white against a black background, with the guessing-game invitation "Whose bones are these?" The recto has a short paragraph highlighting one part of the depicted skeleton, such as skull, spine, or leg bones. Below that, three additional facts are shared in the first person, as if the animal itself is doling out the clues, along with the query "Who am I?" Readers can then open the gatefold flap left to right to reveal an image of the living creature in question in its habitat and in the exact same physical position as the skeleton across the spread for easy comparison. Brewster's imagery steals the show, with the look of woodcut prints in rich and intentionally limited colors. Additional facts are shared about the animal under the flap along with encouragement for readers to compare their skeleton with various animals'. Departing from most board books, very specific species are depicted and include an African bush elephant, a bumblebee bat, and a reticulated python. An excellent and even playful introduction to the skeletal system of both human- and animalkind. (Board book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.