Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
I've Got Feet!: Fantastical Feet of the Animal World
Illustrator: Hannah Tolson
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Amicus Ink, 2017 ISBN: 978-1681521954
Though they are not exactly glamorous, and though poets do not write about them in praise, feet are remarkable things. In the animal kingdom they come in all shapes and sizes, with each set being perfectly adapted to the lifestyle of the animal that they belong to. Feet help animals catch food, evade predators, build homes, and migrate long distances. They can “walk, run, and kick” and “climb, jump, and dig.” Some also help the animal swim.
The cheetah’s feet help the beautiful cat travel at remarkable speeds so that it can catch prey. Zebra’s feet are perfectly adapted to help the striped animal get away from predators and they can deliver such a powerful kick that they can “break a lion’s jaw.”
A duck’s webbed feet are perfect for swimming, and they also prevent ducks from sinking into the mud that can be found along the shores of lakes and ponds.
Blue-footed boobies also have webbed feet but instead of being orange, yellow, or grey like the feet of ducks, their feet are a shocking blue color. The male boobies use their feet to display to female boobies, stepping high and dancing to get their attention.
Turtles also have feet that are designed to help them swim. They have flippers that are so well suited to pushing the turtle through water that they are not well suited to moving around on the land.
This wonderful picture book will charm young animal lovers. With colorful artwork and interesting facts on every spread, this is a title that will encourage young children to look at animals in new ways.
