Skin That Slimes and Scares

Irene Punt is a published author and elementary-school teacher in
Calgary, Alberta.

Award-winning author, Diane Swanson adds to her Up Close series with two
more fascinating fact books about animals. Both books start off with an
overview of their subjects, then zero in on six specific categories.

In Headgear That Hides and Plays, readers learn about headgear that
competes, hides, feeds, courts, defends, and plays. A giraffe can use
its head to deliver a powerful punch; the great horned owl uses its head
as camouflage; an anglerfish uses its head to grow its own fishing rod;
and mountain goats can use them to start butting contests. “In this
book, you’ll travel from the Arctic to Africa in search of the biggest
and oddest heads in the animal world.”

In Skin That Slimes and Scares, readers learn about skin that is
armoured, slimy, warning, tasty, scary, and disguising. “From frilled
lizards and frogs to sharks and stonefish, the creatures in this book
use their skin in amazing ways.” For example, a hippo’s skin makes
its own sunscreen; a bat’s skin helps it fly; slime makes life easier
for an octopus; and colorful skin helps a snake hide.

The text is easy-to-read and supported with excellent color photographs
and interesting sidebars. Readers will enjoy Swanson’s animal–human
comparisons. Highly recommended.