Review by Booklist Review
With peppy prose and colorful, detailed illustrations, this slim volume introduces a surprising range of self-protective traits and behaviors from across the animal kingdom. An opening notes that animals, like kids, get scared, and they, too, have distinct reactions to being afraid. Subsequent spreads show sundry creatures and their distinctive defenses, from the literally repellant (fulmar birds spew odorous vomit at potential threats; Texas horned lizards spray blood from their eyes to deter predators) to the more innocuous, such as flying squirrels soaring through treetops to escape. Throughout, more squirm-inducing descriptions (the assassin bug, for instance, "stabs its prey and sucks out its insides") are somewhat tempered by lightly cartoonish visuals. "Get to Know Me" sidebars interview the featured creatures, and their replies intersperse additional info with comical commentary, like the opossum, playing dead, that asserts, "I should win an Oscar." An endnote aims to connect the animal defenses featured to kids' responses to feeling frightened, with suggestions for calming fears, like taking deep breaths. The lively approach and unusual focus set this animal book apart.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--It's nearly impossible to think clearly when danger lurks and fear sets in--but life in the animal world often doesn't leave a moment to pause. In this enthralling text, Silver provides readers with entertaining facts along with additional sidebar prompts that bring everyone into the dialogue. Front and center are the (sometimes gross and icky) survival traits that act as protection for certain animals when they're face-to-face with a predator. The reality of feeling scared can be yucky--but who doesn't love an opossum whose theatric abilities win best actor for playing dead while emitting an odiferous stink, or learning of the pygmy sperm whale who "pppffts" blobs of ink to repel enemies? A glossary accompanied by a supplemental resource section empowers readers to understand their own human coping mechanisms, while colorful, detailed images soaked in softly muted earth tones build a base of strong general knowledge. The challenge for readers young and old will be to see who says "ew" first! VERDICT A thoroughly engaging, fact-filled book with audacious and memorable animal responses to predators. A must-have for every library.--Lyn Smith
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Glimpses of some of the grosser ways wild animals respond to stress or attacks. Obvious defensive behaviors like hiding and flying away get nods, but mostly Silver goes for the gusto with introductions to projectile-vomiting fulmar birds, blood-squirting horned lizards, spitting camels, and other creatures with similarly repulsive strategies. In a questionable decision, the author gives the inherently crowd-pleasing premise a jokey bent by having each animal speak informally for itself: "I also fry all my food. What? An electric eel's gotta eat too. You use a microwave, don't you?" "They call me Assassin. Assassin Bug…I've been trained to go on the attack when I'm scared. Take a look at my dead-bug backpack." The afterword, in which she points out to young readers how their own instinctive reactions mimic (some of!) the ones she describes, seems likewise strained. In the illustrations, a drab palette and static compositions leach most of the drama from Maynard's stodgy predator/prey encounters, but he does at least depict the wild cast with reasonable fidelity. The book opens and closes with racially diverse sets of human figures in outdoor settings. A juicy topic, but the author tries too hard and the illustrator not hard enough. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
