ALA Booklist (Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Have aliens invaded Earth? No, it's just another stellar partnership for Jenkins and Page, this time presenting 25 unusual animals. In a question-and-answer format, each animal speaks in the first person to explain the purpose of its bizarre features. When asked, "Have you ever thought about getting braces?," the toothy mole rat replies, "Not really. I dig tunnels through the earth with my teeth." To "What is that weird thing growing on your face?," the star-nosed mole answers, "I use the tentacles on my snout to feel my way in the dark." Two show-stopper portraits are the pink-tinted blob fish's smushed head against a brilliant azure background and the toothless horned frog's head with its "ginormous" mouth. The flat, brightly colored backgrounds make the nuanced cut-paper and collage faces pop. Back matter includes a bibliography and silhouettes of the animals compared to humans, as well as their geographic range and diet. It's a splendid introduction and a memorable read-aloud for young children.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Pres-Gr 2 Did you ever wonder why an Egyptian vulture has feathers on his face, or why a frilled lizard has extra skin around his neck? These curiosities are explained in a Q &; A—style interview as 25 unique animals offer up their personal insights (for example, "Dear Tapir: Why is your nose crooked?" "My nose isn't always twisted. I bend it when I want to reach some tender leaves or fruit."). Loaded with nuggets of information and layered in humor, this is a winning picture book that is sure to inform as well as entertain. The illustrations are designed in torn- and cut-paper collage and depict each animal with texture and style. Background colors are bold and bright and provide a balanced backdrop to each animal. Back matter includes a chart of each animal's geographical location and diet for additional research.— Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Using direct address, an unseen narrator asks a variety of animals--from a bighorn sheep to an Egyptian vulture--about their unusual features. Answers, delivered in amusing, conversational language, explain function or purpose. (Why is the thorny devil so spiny? "Think about it. Would you want to bite down on me?") Jenkins's hallmark torn- and cut-paper collages showcase each animal. Bib.