AMPHIBIAN ACROBATS: Laughable and Lively

Covid-19, week 10 of Safe-at-Home, is well underway. The evening frog peeping chorus from a nearby wetland confirms that nature proceeds unabated. "Turtle Crossing" caution signs have returned to my street, and I've seen birds hovering over the area, eyeing their lively buffet. It's very possible to social distance from humans while exploring wildlife, so I hope this post and book will encourage many of you to seek the company of AMPHIBIANS!

Peachtree Publishing, 2020

Among the stacks of picture books I was recently able to collect from my backlogged library holds is AMPHIBIAN ACROBATS, written by LESLIE BULION and illustrated by ROBERT MEGANCK. It was well worth the wait, providing a feast of valuable content from endpapers  to endpapers. 
Writing precedes and prompts illustration, but I choose to address the images first. In this case, they provide loads of scientific information, including details of color, texture, relative size, and adaptive traits. Even so, the amphibians and other critters and flora within each particular spread and habitat appear with postures, juxtapositions, and cheeky attitudes to convey appeal and humor. Above all, the eyes have it, as you can see from the cover, despite being depicted in anatomically correct form. Each spread includes a visual story of ways their adaptive acrobatic antics lend themselves to amphibians' ability to survive and thrive.

It is, of course, the text that inspired such engaging explorations within these delightful images. Bulion has written poems for each spread and its starring amphibian, as well as related and accessible scientific text on the topic of the poem and, at times, related subtopics. 
That format allows readers from toddlers to teens to find fun and information at each page turn. Poems are written in a variety of formal structures. In each case, the match of content and structure feels as adapted and appropriate to each other as the creatures are to the demands of their environments. The poems can be read-aloud with drama and charm, incorporating vibrant verbs and deliciously dense descriptors, all without causing parents or teachers or older readers to stumble over tongue-tying terms. 
The exception to that statement are scientific names or species categories when incorporated in many, but those are made accessible in the glossary at the back. Just as little ones love the "real" names of prehistoric animals, they are going to welcome being introduced to these accurate names when they are boot-deep in observation terrain.

This content complexity (especially the detailed science text and extensive back matter) make this a book well-suited to older readers, too. Predator-prey dynamics, food chain resources, and other important information are layered throughout all levels of words and images  The content is presented and resourced so well it could be cited for reports, but might also provide text for a fabulous poetry slam about amphibians. Add to that its value as mentor text for young writers, turning research into a variety of text structures. You can see why I am such a fan of this nonfiction book.

Here's a short example about one species:

"THE KNIFE HEADS

jabbity stabbity

Bruno's frog, Greening's frog,

cuties, until hidden

skull daggers poke

through their strong skin toxins,

head-butt-injectingly,

venomous frogs can make

predators croak!"

Interior spread: AMPHIBIAN ACROBATS (Peachtree, 2020)

Each spread is equally informative and appealing, but I urge you to spend some time with the back matter, too. The two-page glossary provides essential terminology to enhance understanding about each species and about the expository and poetic text. That is followed  by notes about the structural poetic forms use for each featured creature, with a "just-right" amount of guidance to encourage readers to try writing in those forms. other pages include acknowledgements, a call-to-action page to move readers into the wild, a list of resources, and several pages of beautifully formatted elaboration, including a global map with habitat markers for each species, a table with approximate population counts for some, and a page indicating relative size in simple profiles with familiar references (an American nickel, a standard yellow pencil) and color coding to indicate threat categories. 
Finally, a word about those endpapers. A monochromatic spread provides named silhouettes of each featured critter in relative size. Those names alone engage and invite readers to explore the pages and the wider world: Knife Heads, The Flash!, Daredevil Free-Climbers, Living Statues, Frog Swallower, and so many more!

Find your boots, grab a flashlight, and smear on some bug repellant. Those wild and active amphibians are out there, calling to you to join them! But watch your step...

I'll return soon with another picture book outdoor enticement, one with a bit of a melancholy note.  I welcome your comments, as always. If you'd like to receive these posts directly, you can subscribe in the righthand menu/scroll, over there. > > > > 
You can always unsubscribe, too, of course, if my picture book enthusiasm ever gets to be too much for you.