Whose bones? by Chihiro Takeuchi

Berbay Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9780648785163.
(Ages: 2-5) Recommended. This book comprises an interactive guessing game that asks readers to guess the animal from its bones. The challenge is made harder because the bones are not presented in skeletal form but scattered in random across the page. A picture clue, in the form of what the animal eats is given for each. The vertebrate animals presented include a flamingo, an elephant and a crocodile. There is also another page towards the end of the book where we see six different animals and their complete skeleton. Children will find it easier to guess these animals than the jumbled up skeletons. Also included are some fun, boney facts about some of the animals featured within the book (i.e., an elephant's trunk has no bones, the blue whale has the largest bones of any living animal, sharks don't have any bones). It also tells us that adult humans typically have 206 bones.
Young ones will also enjoy looking at the simplified human skeleton on the endpapers (and will giggle at the robot and alien skeletons).
This is a beautifully designed interactive book that children will love reading time and time again. Takeuchi's paper cut illustrations are simple but eye-catching and the skeletal details are scientifically accurate. It is perfect for developing a curiosity about science and the natural world and for encouraging questions and discussions around different lifeforms. Its short text and simple design make it perfect for even the youngest readers but it will also be thoroughly engaging for the older end of the target market.
Themes: Animal skeletons, Vertebrate animals.
Nicole Nelson