School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Snot otters use their mucus-covered skin to repel infections and predators. Siberian chipmunks rub their fur with the dead flesh of snakes to scare away predators. Facts such as these fill Keating's latest title in the "The World of Weird Animals" series. Combining fascinating animal facts with photographs and amusing illustrations makes for an informative and rather disgusting book that young readers will eagerly snatch from the shelf. The bright colors and large photographs are eye-catching, if not exactly beautiful. Difficult vocabulary words are highlighted and defined in the glossary at the end of the book. A bibliography would have been useful, but young readers won't miss it. VERDICT A first purchase where Keating's other books are popular or animal books are in demand.--Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT
Booklist Review
Having delighted readers with pink and adorable animals in Pink Is for Blobfish (2016) and Cute as an Axolotl (2018), Keating turns to mucus, slime, vomit, poop, and more disgusting anomalies in the animal world. Whether explaining how snot otters (aka hellbenders) use mucus to protect themselves from infection; fulmar gulls projectile vomit a sticky, oily substance to ward off attackers; or marabou storks poop on their own legs to lower their body temperature, the author sticks to her tried-and-true format. Double-page spreads feature a large color photo of the animal, a light-hearted description, fast facts (e.g., its size, diet, habitat, and predators), and a silly cartoon and fact combo, such as why herring use farts to communicate. The surprises are not the more unusual animals but how seemingly beloved animals, like the giraffe and Siberian chipmunk, have a gross side, too. A concluding section on The Science of Eww!' dissects how, as humans evolved, disgusting appearances and smells kept them safe. The weird and wonderful combination of each animal is once again a winner.--Angela Leeper Copyright 2010 Booklist
