Horn Book

Park and Reinhardt pair animal names with actions. Each double-page spread features a single phrase (e.g., "Flounders flounder") and the definition of the verb form ("to flounder = to be helpless"). Visual humor abounds in the watercolor and ink pictures. The final spread gives the etymological background ("Old English," "Old North French") of each animal name and action.

ALA Booklist (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

The English language is a curious creature, and Newbery medalist Park's (A Single Shard, 2001) delightful concept book highlights particular linguistic oddities. Yaks are not known for being particularly verbose, so why yak means to talk remains a mystery. Similarly, bats do not bat at balls, nor do slugs slug one another in a fight, though Reinhardt's comical illustrations would have us believe they could if they wanted to. But some animal-verb homograph pairs are quite reasonably matched. Bugs do indeed bug (people), hogs have a reputation of being greedy, and crows can sound like they are boasting. Every page depicts the animal enacting the verb and includes an inset box providing the definition. Details in the ink-and-watercolor illustrations, like a fish hooking a book of compliments on its fishing line, supplement the humor and bring attention to the joys of wordplay. The end matter contains even more information about the etymology of the words, linking them to possible origins. Young readers will love this hilarious, informative book.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2015)

Gr 1-4 Animal and word lovers alike will enjoy this clever take on homographs, in this case, verbs that are spelled and pronounced like animal names. Each spread features a comical illustration of animals engaged in unusual activities. A short sentence such as "Flounders flounder" or "Dogs dog dogs" appears on the verso, with a definition of the verb on the recto. Thus, yaks yak over tea, quails quail at an imposing dragon kite, bats bat baseballs in a midnight sky, and pairs of slugs slug slugs with red boxing gloves. A final spread offers a chart of the word pairs followed by the derivation of the animal's name as well as that of the action word. In some cases the verb refers to the animal's behavior, such as ape, parrot, and ram. In other cases, one seemingly has nothing to do with the other, as in quail, steer, and kid. The vibrant, amusing watercolor-and-ink illustrations introduce youngsters to some words and animals they may not know. They are occasionally enhanced with funny speech bubbles such as upside down flounders remarking, "I did not mean to do that" or relentless badgers begging an apple, "Be kindgive me the appleyou don't need[it]. You could stand to lose a few pounds." or greedy hogs hoarding piles of apples with signs like "MINE ALL MINE!" Other whimsical touches, such as a small fish fishing for The Book of Compliments will offer knowing readers a chuckle. VERDICT An original and fun way to build vocabulary. Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools