Shell, Beak, Tusk: Shared Traits and the Wonders of Adaptation

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 17, 2017

Review

This book is going to attract your animal book fans! With a clear unifying concept, that of convergent evolution (some animals develop the same traits like quills or tusks, but are in NO WAY related), and gorgeous photographs, one per page, this is an attractive book. The information is well-researched and interesting; also has photo credits and an index. The one critique is on page 16 - the information about fireflies seems to have a typo - it claims that fireflies are tricksters, shining their lights to attract other insects who then become dinner. But the text states that the *firefly* approaches and is then eaten by...a firefly. It is a small thing, but it is unclear and made this reviewer re-read several times. Bridget Heos is a known name in nonfiction writing, so there is an expected high level of writing and fact-checking and aside from one small misstep, this is a great addition to an elementary nonfiction collection.

Overall Book Score: good