Cover Image: Hidden Animal Colors

Hidden Animal Colors

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Though the writing in Hidden Animal Colors may feel lacking, the beautiful full colour photos are worth checking out this book. While the book's target range is K-3 grades, I would probably use this with younger children.

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This could be a really fun read aloud book for a family storytime. Kids will love to guess what color each animal might be hiding and the big vibrant photographs.

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This is a test review because I work for the publisher and don't want to skew the results but need to get these off my shelves.

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This informational treat combines the concept of camouflage with colors in a fun way. It does not cover all the primary and basic colors, but they can be found in the images. The stunning photographs range from up close to a little far away, so readers can see the detail of what is being covered in the page. One of the exciting features of the book is the guessing element which involves rhyming words. Ex. in first person a snake shares on one page how “when I was young. To SCARE away predators...." and then when you turn the page, his blue, vibrant tongue is out with the words " I STICK OUT MY TONGUE!" (making young and tongue a pair). This is the first, highlighted animal and will give readers an indication of the lighter tone of the title, as they see the hidden colors of animals. Ten creatures can be seen and range from an insect to a mammal. Some of the text is in large, bold lettering, and they are usually adjectives or verbs. A thoughtful activity page about camouflage and a glossary rounds out this sure-fire hit.

Thanks to Millbrook Press and NetGalley for the e-galley. I read the published edition for this review. My ratings and reviews are my own.

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Hidden Animal Colors by Jane Park is nonfiction picturebook. Why should the bright and flashy animals get all of the attention? If you look closely at some seemingly ordinary animals, you may find a colorful surprise. A lizard is brown. A hippo is gray. But wait! The lizard has a blue tongue to scare predators, and the hippo has pink "sweat" that protects it from the sun! Brilliant photos accompany author Jane Park's rhyming nonfiction text in this playful exploration of animals' hidden colors.

Hidden Animal Colors is a great book for reading alone or together. The page design with photographs of animals and text placement worked very well to capture and keep the attention of readers of all ages. I loved the idea of showing young readers that even the most ordinary creatures could be hiding some interesting features, and that even the less exciting feature do have a purpose that can help animals survive and thrive in the wild. This is a great book for all readers, even if they just want to look at some great pictures and enjoy the book on that level alone.

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This book skillfully uses photographs to bring children's attention to all the hidden wonders of the natural world. It will surely spark curiosity and many questions as students practice "noticing" and "wondering", two skills that they can then take into the every day world. The author really did a beautiful job of setting the scene with each picture, using the just right amount of text, and helping students change perspectives. This book would be appropriate for a wide range of ages, from early preschoolers into 1st or 2nd grade.

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This book offers so much! Not only is it a great, memorable lesson in color identification, there are also lots of descriptive words to enrich students' vocabulary. The variety of animals will keep kids' attention and simple explanations of why animals are colored the way they are is a nice introduction to zoology.

The photos of the animals are amazing! They're crisp, clear, huge, and detailed. Students will be fascinated with what they see while they read. This would be an excellent book for pre-K and early elementary and would make a great addition to school and classroom libraries.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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Fantastic kids book about animals and how they use color in their lives. The rhyming was fun and the info about said animals was great. The contrast between the animals and the color splashes is a nice eye catcher!

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Hidden Animal Colors is book that tells why animals have colors which are bright and colorful as well as colors which are much plainer. It is full of stunning photographs of different animals. The animals may have plain colors to help them with survival, but then have brighter colors. I love that this book has actual photographs of animals.
So many children's books have beautiful illustrations, but I prefer to use actual pictures in my classroom. This book fits in nicely with my district's science standards on animal adaptations. I will definitely be adding this book to my s\classroom science library.

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This book cleverly and beautifully depicts how different animals, most who look normal or just brown, have interesting colorful features. Each animal gets 2-4 pages and we learn some facts about their colorful features. I really thought that this book was well put-together and educational for children. I would definitely read this to my child.

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The colorful photos in the book, the clear informative text, and the topic of animals are just what appeals to young readers. This book definitely merits several readings to absorb the information and discuss it. Readers will learn that animals that seem to have plain color often have more colorful features that help them do such things as attract a mate or camouflage themselves. A recommended read aloud and also great for independent reading.

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I liked the photographs of this children's book and appreciate that they ranged from ones that were farther back to close up to highlight the "hidden" colors of each of the animals. It was interesting and informative, and of course colorful. It's great for children (and adults) to learn about the natural world and this book helps to identify some of these animals unique characteristics that aren't as easily visible on first look.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Jane Park for allowing me to read this early!

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A very informative, quick fun read that both excites and educates. The layout is excellent; great flow, nice fonts, superb photography. What research went into this is well executed and there are resources in the back of the book.

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Very interesting and fun facts about animals. Love the pictures and they rhyming! My girls love animals and science so this was right up their alley. It will be a loved book at our house!

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Super cool book about how animals use colors for a variety of reasons.

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This is a short picture book for preschool-aged children about the ways animals camouflage themselves or use color to communicate.

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A cute nonfiction book. The use of photographs is excellent. The mixture of short rhymes with information blurbs make the book easy to read aloud. Some of the rhymes are a little forced at times but overall very enjoyable.

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This is one cool picture book, even for adults. It starts out saying, yeah, we know there are really colorful animals out there, but I bet you didn't know about these animals that have color in unusual places. Like the lizard the Blue-Tongued Skink, who has a blue tongue, or a dull bird, the Tinamou, who lays bright green eggs.

It gives us a look at things that we may not think to look for. Did you know that Beavers have iron in their teeth that makes them look orange?

Great fun for kids and for adults, as they find out what animals use to startle preditors,

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

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I highly recommend this delightful and educational Nonfiction children's book, designated for children Kindergarten to Grade 3. Even this adult learned. Children will be inspired to study Nature and learn to look beyond the surface. Photographs of animals and amphibians each offer a pleasant colorful surprise.

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Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of Hidden Animal Colors by Jane Park. What amazing photographs of the animals and their unique colorings. This book looks to target young elementary students with the bright colors and short paragraphs that explain the special colorings of 9 different animals. Older elementary students could enjoy this book to focus on the why these animals have the splashes of color. There is a glossary of the scientific terms as well as a further reading section with books and websites listed. At the end of the book, there is a matching activity with pictures of the animals and possible reasons for their color. Would have liked a few more animals included but understand that small children has shorter attention spans. This would make a great book for all children that like color and animals.

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