Battle of the Butts: The Science Behind Animal Behinds

PreS-Gr 2--Butts, hineys, and bottoms are battling it out. Readers are expected to rate 10 talented tushies from varying species in the animal and sea life world. The Pudgy Pooter manatee uses its farts to help with swimming. When it wants to go to the surface, it holds its gas in, and when it wants to go back down, it lets gas out. Herrings, or the Toot Talkers of the underwater kingdom, communicate with one another through farts. Wombats, known in this competition as Tough Tushies, mark territory with their poop, which is uniquely shaped as cubes. Spreads of each of the 10 talented derrieres present the animals in their natural habitats. Detailed information about the creature is shared in a fun and relatable way that will appeal to kids. The habitats are depicted in beautifully colored illustrations of the ocean, desert, or underground. Readers can use a scale to decide the rating of an animal's bottom--from terrific tushie to boring backside. More difficult scientific terminology is bold in the text and defined in the glossary. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase for public and elementary school libraries; a perfect nonfiction choice for reluctant readers.--Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country P.L., NY