Feathers and Hair: What Animals Wear by Jennifer Ward (review)

With short, succinct phrases, predictable rhyme, and great big beautiful double bleed collages, this title focusing on recognizable critters (with a couple of surprises) is a perfect fit for preschoolers who have just graduated from lapsit to more independent storytimes. “Some animals wear feathers,” such as the multi-hued bird; “Some animals wear hair,” like the black and white monkey launching itself off a branch; and “Some animals wear prickly spines and roam without a care,” specifically the porcupine that toddles along with its glorious bristles trailing behind. Names never appear in the text, so children are free, or rather encouraged, to offer their own identifications. A “Meet the Animals in Order of Appearance” addendum, with animal cracker–style thumbnails and brief introductions, confirms the audience’s guesses and antes up science utility for older listeners and nature mavens. The concluding spread of a child in a bathtub goes for the giggles, but the end matter brings the topic back into focus with comments on human skin and hair. From storytime craft project masks to science class categorizing of animals by their coverings, expect this to spark plenty of ideas for group play and discovery.