Animals in hiding, potty training, and things fishy in Candlewick's children's books [Review & Giveaway]

Find Out About Animal Camouflage by Martin Jenkins & illustrated by Jane McGuinness

My thoughts: Pretty easy to understand and extensive coverage of how insects and animals have the ability to camouflage themselves for protection as well as aggression.

It even helps the child to learn that they must be careful what they touch and where they step to avoid being hurt themselves by camouflaged critters.

I think this will be a fun and educational book for children.

About the book: Discover some of the brilliant ways animals disguise themselves in this engaging introduction for young children from a conservation biologist.

Some animals hide in the sand, like the desert lizard, whose scales can resemble pebbles and stones. Others hide in the sea, like the peacock flounder, who can also change color. And some, like poison dart frogs and the scarlet king snake, don’t try to hide at all! Most animals have developed clever tricks to survive, but not all excel at camouflage the way these animals do. From moths whose wings resemble dead leaves to eponymous stick insects, from a lizard that looks like a tree stump to the ghost pipefish you’d mistake for a coral reef, the range of colors, patterns, and techniques captured here demonstrates how animals across myriad environments can disguise themselves. Melding a simple narration with more detailed facts on a variety of creatures—including sandgrouses, gerbils, Arctic foxes, and butterflies—this fascinating picture book also offers a brief note on animal camouflage in the back matter.

Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty by Leigh Hodgkinson

My thoughts:  While I don't usually care for "potty" or "poop" books for children, I found this fairy tale take on potty training cute and of much value. It takes a sometimes stressful period of a young child's training and makes it fun and totally believable for a "fairy tale."

Little girls will love a book about themselves during this stressful training time when they are learning to use potty successfully. 

About the book: Little Goldilocks wants to wear underwear -- big-girl underwear that's not too silly and not too frilly, but just right. But that means she also needs to find the "just right" potty. Will she know when she needs to go? And will she get to the potty in time? Find out in this lighthearted story that will have parents and their little ones feeling ready to tackle toilet training.

Fish Everywhere by Britta Teckentrup

My thoughts: This book is packed with easy to understand information about water creatures - not just fish. I love the information and how it is presented on an easy to understand level for children.

However, I found the book sorely lacking in usability or readability. The pages are absolutely too dark as well as the dark overlaying text. Much of the text is also very tiny. Not good for a children's book. Dark on dark is not suitable for any age. I am seeing this method of printing being utilized rather frequently in children's books and it does not bode well for the printing industry.

Again, the book's information and even simplistic illustrations are very good. I just don't care for the dark on dark printing of text.

About the book: Best-selling illustrator Britta Teckentrup explores the world of fish in a sumptuously illustrated nonfiction book.
There are fish everywhere! Some of them live in fresh water, some of them live under ice, and some even live in the desert. Fish Everywhere is the first in a series of nonfiction books from Britta Teckentrup. Young readers will learn where in the world all sorts of animals can be found and all the weird and wonderful things that they never imagined were true. This is nonfiction with spark and personality from a much-loved illustrator. Secret word: dark.

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DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.