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"Orangutans are Ticklish" by Steve Grubman and Jill Davis

Author:

Steve Grubman

Publisher:

Schwartz and Wade Books

Reviewed by:

John Warren Stewig

Grubman, Steve with Jill Davis. ORANGUTANS ARE TICKLISH. Fun Facts From an Animal Photographer. Schwartz and Wade Books, 2010

This engaging compilation of information about thirteen different animals is sure to engage child readers or indeed pre-readers who will simply enjoy the pictures. The orangutan featured on the cover is repeated in the interior, “holding up” the large letters spelling out her name. Some of the animals are better known, like the tiger, while others, like the coatimundi are less well known. Some, like the chimpanzee are portrayed in multiple color photos in contrast to the lion, which is portrayed just once. All the photographs are effectively clear, though some will cause children to look twice. For example, the photograph of with the aardvark might easily be mistaken for a rabbit. This helpfully simulates children to think about what they know against what the text tells them and the pictures show them.

Some of the facts are often repeated; like the distinction between alligators and crocodiles, while others are less well known (giraffes don’t bath). Some make use of common measurements (I.e. a giraffe baby when born might fall six feet to the ground). Others make vivid comparisons, for instance: a gray kangaroo baby when born is the size of a Jelly bean. The fun facts in the book’s subtitle are presented in the two or three paragraphs of main text on each opening and in the section at the end of the book featuring three additional bulleted facts for each animal. Small colored tabs on each opening give a bit of personal experience from the photographer as he was making the pictures. A generous trim size and elegantly uncluttered format will appeal to a wide audience.

John Warren Stewig