Animals Eating: How Animals Chomp, Chew, Slurp and Swallow

Barbara Robertson is the author of Wilfrid Laurier: The Great
Conciliator and the co-author of The Well-Filled Cupboard.

Animals Eating is nearly as interesting as its immediate predecessor,
Animals in Motion, and follows much the same format. That is to say,
Pamela Hickman has chosen a wide variety of animals, and for each one
describes not only what it requires in the way of food but also how its
shape (particularly of jaws) and skills allow it to secure what it needs
to eat. Pat Stephens has once again provided excellent illustrations.

The sections headed “If you were a …” are among the most
entertaining (and astonishing) parts of the book. For example, “If you
were a crocodile … you could grow up to 3000 teeth in your lifetime”
and “If you were a giraffe … your tongue would be covered by a
natural sunscreen to protect it from the hot sun.”

There are a number of experiments of varying feasibility. The first
experiment, designed to illustrate how the food chain works, seems
rather tough, though you would have a grasp of the concept if you
persisted. Less formidable, and very illuminating, are the experiments
illustrating how the gizzard works and how butterflies and flies eat.

Hickman writes with clarity and grace, so it is surprising to find on
page 11 “lays” used where “lies” is required; later on the same
page, “lays” is used correctly. It is strange that such an error
slipped past the editor. Recommended.