Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations

Reviews

Green Teacher Magazine
"There comes a time as an adult when you can pick up some children’s books and enjoy learning something NEW! The two books Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations and Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations both taught me something! (I did not know, for example, that Blackspot Tuskfish use tools to get their meals or that whales have earwax that actually helps them hear.) The author, Laura Perdew, does a wonderful job keeping the facts about adaptations simple but still scientific. The illustrator, Katie Mazeika, does a fabulous job of providing big, bright colors to help get the message across. I also appreciated the glossary and “Activity Time” pages in the back of the book that help reinforce the topics that were covered."

Booklist Series Nonfiction Showcase
“Through layered, mischievous illustrations and detailed back matter, the Picture Book Science series plies young readers with a ton of useful facts about how all sorts of animals have evolved to survive in their environments. Antifreeze includes fish that use suction cups to climb rocks (the Hawaiian goby) and fish that can breathe air (the lungfish, of course!). In Spit Nests, readers will observe the complex mating rituals of bowerbirds and blue-footed boobies and learn the gross-but-useful reason for a vulture’s bald head (and their even grosser defense mechanism). Stink Fights delves into the weird, wide world of mammal adaptations, which includes whale earwax plugs, star-nosed mole sniffer sensitivity, and everything in between. Sunscreen showcases primarily frogs, which are capable of some of the most bizarre things of all in the name of self-defense—some cover themselves in slime and others can even use their own poisonous bones as weapons after pushing them out through their skin. Each book contains a hands-on activity that will get kids involved; the mammal volume even points out that human beings are mammals, too, and encourages students to consider their own place in their ecosystems. Classroom-friendly and fun, too.”

Archimedes Notebook Blog
Fun New Series on Animal Adaptations
Let’s face it: animals are cool! And most kids I know love to read about animals. What’s even better than a book about animals is a whole series of books about strange and wonderful animal adaptations.
Laura Perdew has written a whole bunch of books – well, at least five – about animals and their unique adaptations. They are fun and breezy, and a perfect way to introduce young children to the different classes of vertebrate animals: reptiles, birds, mammals, amphibians, and fish.
Did you know that some fish have antifreeze and that archerfish shoot their prey? That water-holding frogs can stay buried for two years? Perdew introduces readers to unsung heroes of the animal world: star-nose moles, blue-footed boobies, and thorny devil lizards. She sings the praises of salamander slime and whale earwax. Click here to read the complete review online. 

School Library Journal
“Fish have adapted to live in many different bodies of water. This colorful nonfiction book offers several interesting facts about various species of fish, including the African lungfish, hammerhead sharks, mudskippers, and manta rays. Their adaptations are fascinating; the Antarctic blackfin ice fish produces a chemical similar to antifreeze to stop its blood from freezing. Back matter includes a glossary, additional facts, and instructions on how to create a fish adaptations picture book. The beginning of the book features a poem. Mazeika’s cute illustrations will appeal to younger audiences. Different fonts and colors are utilized throughout the text to emphasize important facts about the spotlighted fish. Children who are curious about the natural world will find this book highly engaging. VERDICT An inviting addition to the children’s nonfiction section. Everyone needs more cool fact books, and this title is a part of a science-centered series."

CLEAR Reviews
"Science teachers will discover much to share in their classrooms, while students in grades 1-4 will find these texts entertaining enough for independent reading."

Praise for other books in the Picture Book Science series

Forces - Booklist Starred Review March 15, 2018
“Forces, despite its down-to-earth scientific grounding, manages to do the nearly impossible. Diehn brings gravity, magnetism, push-pull forces, and friction to life in everyday contexts, without a hint of schoolroom jargon. Children, parents, and teachers alike can enjoy learning the charming, often funny, relatable, and accessible science within this Picture Book Science series (4 titles) offering.”