Gross-out Defenses

Beginning readers will be enthralled by the freakish defensive capabilities of this wonderfully weird collection of animals. While most students will be familiar with the defenses of the porcupine, Prickly Porcupines explores some of the porcupine’s more unfamiliar defensive tactics. Smelly Skunks explains the mechanisms behind the skunk’s stinky defense, and Tricky Opossums solves the mystery of why they play dead when threatened. On the other hand, students may not be familiar with the other three animals in the series. Deadly Poison Dart Frogs introduces readers to one of the world’s most poisonous animals, while Disgusting Hagfish introduces students to a slimy creature that resembles an eel. Students will be fascinated by Bloody Horned Lizards shooting blood from their eyes. Clear headings and short, descriptive sentences will help new readers navigate through the engrossing nonfiction. The full-page, close-up photos are riveting and add to the gross-out factor. All six titles offer a brief glossary, Read More, Internet links, and Index extensions. These titles are creepy enough to be gripping; simple enough to lure beginning readers. Recommended.

With lots of full-color photos of creatures in action, this six-book series on animals’ defensive strategies includes titles on the horned lizard, which can squirt blood from its eyes, and the hagfish, which emits slime to escape from its enemies. Each title includes a map showing the habitat area of the species.

Beginning readers will be enthralled by the freakish defensive capabilities of this wonderfully weird collection of animals. While most students will be familiar with the defenses of the porcupine, Prickly Porcupines explores some of the porcupine’s more unfamiliar defensive tactics. Smelly Skunks explains the mechanisms behind the skunk’s stinky defense, and Tricky Opossums solves the mystery of why they play dead when threatened. On the other hand, students may not be familiar with the other three animals in the series. Deadly Poison Dart Frogs introduces readers to one of the world’s most poisonous animals, while Disgusting Hagfish introduces students to a slimy creature that resembles an eel. Students will be fascinated by Bloody Horned Lizards shooting blood from their eyes. Clear headings and short, descriptive sentences will help new readers navigate through the engrossing nonfiction. The full-page, close-up photos are riveting and add to the gross-out factor. All six titles offer a brief glossary, Read More, Internet links, and Index extensions. These titles are creepy enough to be gripping; simple enough to lure beginning readers. Recommended.

Each book begins with a predator-versus-prey anecdote describing the featured animal’s means of self-protection. Though defenses are the focus, standard animal facts (habitat, diet, young) are also covered. The short sentences of main text, accompanied by large and vibrant photographs, are easy to read.

The stars of the show, at least when it comes to browser appeal, these titles focus on different defensive strategies highlighted in vivid, often gloriously repulsive photos. Leading the way is the hagfish, with its ability to generate clouds of thick, gill- and nose-clogging slime, but, as seen in a spectacular stop-motion image, the horned lizard can squirt blood out of its eye sockets, and a shot of a dog sporting a face full of porcupine quills will have even cynical viewers wincing. Each volume includes a species range map and lively text presented in well-spaced single sentences. Expect plenty of delighted "ewwwww"s and shouts of “gross!”