I See a Kookaburra!

Starred review from April 25, 2005
The husband-and-wife team behind What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
presents another intimate look at the natural world, here surveying six animal in glorious habitats: desert, tide pool, jungle, savanna, forest and pond. Author and artist introduce each environment in pairs of spreads, first asking readers to peer into a full-bleed landscape in which they can spot animals partially concealed by holes, greenery and other features (hence, the "I See" in the title, a refrain for each environment). The companion spread, strips away all the extraneous detail, revealing the inhabitants, silhouetted against a white background. A structure resembling a pine cone, for instance, which pops out from a rock outcropping in the first desert spread is actually the end of a fat, coiled diamondback rattlesnake in all its venomous glory; skinny toes wrapped around a branch in the jungle turns out to belong to a comical red-eyed tree frog. Jenkins masterfully manipulates texture and space, playing up the unique palette and architecture of each habitat, while pushing readers towards an aesthetic awareness of the remarkable shapes and patterns that compose nature's wonders. Straightforward language in small type identifies the environments ("This desert is in the American Southwest"), and vivid, economical descriptions of the critters follow on the companion spreads, completing the phrase "I see..."("an angry diamondback rattlesnake buzzing a warning," for instance). Lengthier notes on all the environments and inhabitants conclude this informative and attractive volume, yet another keeper from this talented team. Ages 4-8.

May 1, 2005
The authors take on a familiar elementary-level science topic -- habitats -- and transform it into an appealing game of hide-and-seek. Readers start on a double-page spread portraying a desert habitat in which glimpses of animals can be seen among the cacti. Turn the page, and the plants and rocks are gone, revealing the animals in the same positions as on the previous spread. Each animal is named and accompanied by a fact, and the process is repeated for five more habitats. Additional information about the animals and each habitat are found at the back of the book. The lush cut-paper illustrations invite detailed scrutiny of the various animals' features and display the textures and variety of skin, fur, beaks, and the like. But the plants in these habitats, however inadvertently, seem to be more of a nuisance (blocking our view of the animals) than critical components of the ecosystems. This portrayal, as well as a loose definition of adaptations, leaves the door open for misconceptions about interdependence and survival in the natural world. Nevertheless, readers will be attracted to this handsome book's highly appealing and informative depictions of animal life.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2005
K-Gr 4 -This colorful introduction to six different biomes mixes clearly presented information with seek-and-find fun. The book opens with a glorious two-page collage made of cut and torn paper that depicts a desert in the American Southwest. Eight indigenous animals are included in the picture, but readers will have to search hard to find them as they are mostly camouflaged by cacti and rocks. On the next spread, the creatures are shown against a white backdrop; each one remains in the same position on the page, allowing youngsters to refer back and find the ones they missed. Each animal is introduced by name and given a brief yet tantalizing descriptive line. The same pattern is repeated for a tide pool on the English coast, a rain forest in the Amazon River basin, the grasslands of central Africa, an Australian forest, and a pond in the American Midwest. As an added challenge, and to make the point that ants live all over the world, one of these insects is hidden in each scene. Additional, well-chosen facts about these habitats and the depicted creatures are appended, along with an outline map of the locales. Filled with vibrant colors and palpable textures, the illustrations are breathtaking and give a real sense of the vitality, diversity, and beauty of nature. A first-rate foray into ecology that will encourage readers to explore the world around them. -"Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2005
K-Gr. 3. Jenkins and Page team up again, this time to combine vibrant paper-collage art with an I Spy game to introduce wildlife in six habitats around the world. A double-page scene offering a glimpse of the animals that appear on the following two pages introduces each habitat, accompanied by a bit of text that invites kids to look closely at the pictures. Individual animals are depicted more fully and briefly identified on a subsequent double-page spread. Proportions may confuse kids (the termite appears larger than the rhino), and naming the animals in the panoramas will be a challenge, as often only a claw or an eye peeks through the foliage. The animal illustrations are reprised in miniature at the close of the book, each one presented with brief facts in tiny type, which are apparently directed to adults or older kids sharing the book with young children. Further readings and a small map round out the text. The bright and playful design will attract an enthusiastic audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2005
In an appealing game of hide-and-seek, readers look at one of eight different habitats with glimpses of animals. Turn the page, and the plants and rocks are gone, revealing the animals. The lush cut-paper illustrations invite detailed scrutiny, but the plants seem to be more of a nuisance than critical components of the ecosystems. Nevertheless, readers will be attracted to this handsome book.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)