Whose Feet Are These?

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

“The skin on my feet is bumpy like sandpaper. I spend a lot of time in
trees, eating the buds, new leaves, twigs, and bark. ... I am one of the
biggest birds in the world, and weigh as much as a small woman. ... I
live in the cold arctic where it can snow any time of the year. ... My
brightly coloured feet help me cruise through the ocean. When I dive, I
steer with my feet. ... Each winter, I grow thick warm feathers on my
feet and toes, and my toenails grow longer. The feathers work like
snowshoes and keep me sinking when I walk. ... The claws on my front
feet are as long as a ballpoint pen—longer than any other
animal’s.”

The above excerpts are from this guessing game book where the reader is
shown a photograph of some particular (and often peculiar) feet, given a
handful of clues, and then challenged to identify the critter who owns
them. When the guessing is over, a follow-up page gives the answer and
more information on the mystery subject. Although aimed at young and
even prereaders, Whose Feet Are These? will also be enjoyed by adults
who can share in unraveling the mystery of each animal. Highly
recommended.