Review by Booklist Review
Cushman's introduction to these tall pink wading birds delivers abundant information with a smile. She details habitats, individual species, diet, mating and life cycles, feeding adaptations, standing behaviors, and migratory habits. She devotes special attention to their coloring (a result of diet); their extreme, sometimes toxic, natural environments; and beaks that allow them to scoop up food underwater while filtering out salt and water. Bright, child-friendly artwork details these birds in a variety of poses and settings. Pinks and blues predominate, along with other pastel hues. Factual text appears on spreads, sidebars, and diagrams, while snarky commentary emerges in speech bubbles ("Throat milk! I got leftover throat milk here!"). A green snake also comments in each spread, adding humorous observations ("We can get pizza delivered out here, right?"). Cushman has a good handle on what facts will interest her readers, although inexplicably she omits that these birds poop on their legs as a means of cooling off and preventing sunburn. Appended with additional species information, this should suit report writers and browsers alike.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--Funky is the word for this humorous guide to flamingos of all sorts. Facts and descriptions appear in the body of the text while the birds (and a snake) in the illustrations make humorous remarks in speech bubbles. For instance, when the various species are introduced, the Lesser Flamingo opines, "I think we can come up with a better name." And when the text explains that flamingos can live in locations with corrosive chemicals in the water, one of the birds asks, "Beautiful view, toxic water, all the algae you can eat … what more could you ask for?" A map showing locations for each species, a spread with all six birds side by side for easy comparison of size, and diagrams showing the "unique beaks" and surprising structure of flamingo legs offer additional details. Their snaky friend looks at the beak diagram and quips, "Wow! You really know how to turn that frown upside down!" Side bars offer information on the carotenoids that give flamingos their color and on the growth of flamingo chicks. Back matter offers a photo of each species, along with their common and scientific names, height, weight, and conservation status. A glossary and suggestions for further reading are also included. VERDICT A useful introduction that will entertain readers as it shares fascinating facts about these colorful birds, and a helpful addition to units on birds or animal adaptations.--Suzanne Costner
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Cushman, with a little help from the chatty green snake introduced in Wombats Are Pretty Weird (rev. 7/23), once again treats young readers to the wonders of the animal world. This time the discussion is about flamingo features, such as their habitats, coloration, nests, and skeletons. Cushman's conversational, often jokey tone and direct address invite reader engagement. The initial pink double-page spread directs youngsters to "back up a little." Turn the page, and they encounter two pink joints (later identified as ankles, not knees), with further directions to back up a little more. Turn the page and "behold the flamingo." A particularly helpful map pinpoints habitats of the six flamingo species, with the following spread introducing each. Further explanations include why they are pink (the carotenoids they eat) and how and why that color intensifies. Other information includes why they stand on one leg; what protects them from toxic water; and how they eat, a process shown through a clear, uncomplicated diagram. The digital illustrations with a sunny palette humorously amplify the text through both facial expressions and exaggerated antics such as attracting a mate. Back matter consists of scientific information (such as size, weight, and conservation status), a glossary, and suggestions for further reading. Betty CarterSeptember/October 2024 p.97 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Fancifully presented facts about flamingos. Cushman has hit upon an appealing formula for introducing young readers to wondrous animals. Here, she pairs well-chosen information with lighthearted illustrations that include humorous speech-bubble commentary from the flamingos themselves. Fans of her Wombats Are Pretty Weird (2023) will recognize the somewhat clueless "pea-greeny" snake who joins the party and interjects observations and questions ("We can get pizza delivered out here, right?"). Adults reading the book aloud at storytime will relish the extreme close-ups in the opening images. Early on, a world map shows where each of the six flamingo species can be found. Cushman explains why flamingos are pink and covers courtship rituals, chick rearing, social habits, habitat, and adaptations. She pays special attention to their feeding habits and anatomy (their unusual beaks allow them to eat upside down and to filter food out of the water; they're more comfortable on one leg than two). The book includes many memorable facts: The birds use makeup (a gland near their tail produces oil that they rub onto their cheeks and feathers) to attract mates, their nests are volcano-shaped, and they regurgitate bright red crop milk to feed their chicks. Occasionally, more detailed explanations are set off in boxes. A final spread includes photos of each species, along with their scientific names, size, conservation status, and threats they face. Engaging and enlightening fun. (glossary, further reading) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
