  | Spectacular spots Author: Stockdale, Susan | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Susan Stockdale brings to life a patterned parade of animals, showing young readers some of the many reasons spots are found so often in nature. Bouncy, alliterative rhyme and simple phrases keep readers entertained, while back matter provides more in-depth information on each featured animal.
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Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/15/15)
School Library Journal (04/01/15)
Booklist (04/01/15)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 04/01/2015 PreS-Gr 1—A simple, rhyming text graced with large, colorful acrylics provides a wide window into the physical characteristic of spots in the natural world. Relying on minimalist text ("crawling crabs," "chasing cheetahs," "napping fawn") and a painterly hand, Stockdale introduces a variety of creatures, some of which will be familiar to the intended young audience (think horses and ladybugs), others of which will be exotic and intriguing (calico crabs, helmeted guinea pigs). Parents and educators will find the back matter useful. A brief paragraph about each animal provides a smidgen of further information, including why these creature have spots (to warn, camouflage, intimidate), while a concluding game asks, "Can you find the animals that belong to these spots?" VERDICT An attractive, briefly informative, fun offering for the curious of mind.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 04/01/2015 This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates creatures with spots, ranging from “singing quails” and “gliding snails” to “clinging frogs” and “dozing hogs.” The vibrant illustrations are stylized rather than lifelike, yet Stockdale’s attention to key physical features means that the species represented, in all their diversity and mystery, are still recognizable. “Crawling crabs” accompanies an image of a speckled crustacean on a gray, sandy beach; while “scouting fish” is paired with a brilliant-blue box fish nestled in a branch of coral. The text consists of brief, descriptive two- to three-word phrases that, together, compose a bouncy, rhyming narrative. A concluding two-page spread summarizes interesting facts, habitats, and distribution information for each of the 19 species covered in the book, and a final activity page shows samples of each illustration and asks readers to identify which spotted pattern belongs to which animal. Pair this with Lois Ehlert’s Lots of Spots (2010), or use it to introduce slightly higher-level selections, such as Melvin Berger’s 101 Hidden Animals (2014), which features actual photographs. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.
