Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

Starred Review Like Jim Arnosky's Gobble It Up! (reviewed on p.103), this picture book is about the food chain, but there is much more scientific depth and detail here. The facts about how particular animals escape danger and evade predators to stay alive are just as exciting as the facts about hunting. With clear, gorgeous, freestanding images in cut- and torn-paper collage, each double-page spread shows detailed species close up, as well as the connections between animals. As salmon swim upstream to lay their eggs, a grizzly bear grabs a leaping fish in midair, and the text tells how. Then there are amazing descriptions of how various animals lay, protect, and hatch their eggs; how they use leaves (in an unforgettable small picture, an orangutan in the rain forest holds a large leaf overhead as an umbrella); how flies use their large eyes and lightning-fast reflexes to escape; and how animals dig holes to escape from enemies or to find food. At the back, two double-page spreads with beautiful small images add detailed notes about each creature for older children. An enthralling read-aloud, especially in small groups, where children can crowd up close to the images.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

Gr 1-5 In this new take on animal adaptation, readers are asked to guess how six different animals might hatch an egg, use a leaf, eat a clam, or dig a hole. They can then turn the page to see how the creatures, ranging from the well-known grizzly bear to the unusual white tent bat, pull off the task. Jenkins and Page have done a remarkable job of selecting animals with unique adaptations and organizing them into categories for the gamelike feel of the book. The explanations in the body of the book and in the more detailed end matter are clear and engaging. Jenkins's beguiling slender loris on the cover, with its torn-paper fur and uncannily realistic eyes, draws readers into a menagerie of detailed paper art. This is good science, organized and illustrated for joyful learning. Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

The authors answer the title question--and five more--on full but not crowded double-page spreads. Spreads feature six animals; each creature (and its method) is varied and vividly presented. Jenkins's detailed cut-paper art is clear; the amount of text is just right; and the page design keeps it all easy on the eyes. Four pages at the back provide more information.

Kirkus Reviews

Similar in format to their highly successful What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? (2003), this stunning creation combines Jenkins's gorgeous hand-made paper illustrations with an engaging text that's wonderful for both group reading or sharing one-on-one. "See if you can figure out how the animals in these pages will snare a fish, hatch an egg, use a leaf, catch a fly, dig a hole, or eat a clam," the introduction encourages. Openings show small images of six animals opposite large images of a fly, leaf, etc., challenging the reader to answer the question before turning the page to see the illustrated answers. The eye-appealing arrangement of words and images makes each page turn a delight. The facts are fascinating and sometimes a tad gruesome: "The ichneumon wasp...lays its eggs inside a caterpillar. When the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae eat the caterpillar from the inside out." Nature is "red in tooth and claw." More information about each of the animals is contained in the back of the book. Similar in format to their highly successful What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? (2003), this stunning creation combines Jenkins's gorgeous hand-made paper illustrations with an engaging text that's wonderful for both group reading or sharing one-on-one. "See if you can figure out how the animals in these pages will snare a fish, hatch an egg, use a leaf, catch a fly, dig a hole, or eat a clam," the introduction encourages. Openings show small images of six animals opposite large images of a fly, leaf, etc., challenging the reader to answer the question before turning the page to see the illustrated answers. The eye-appealing arrangement of words and images makes each page turn a delight. The facts are fascinating and sometimes a tad gruesome: "The ichneumon wasp...lays its eggs inside a caterpillar. When the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae eat the caterpillar from the inside out." Nature is "red in tooth and claw." More information about each of the animals is contained in the back of the book. Kudos! (Informational picture book. 5-10)