Review by Booklist Review
This is another irreverent offering from Eaton, who presents an enjoyable combination of basic and little-known facts about elephants (his previous child-pleasing targets have been dolphins, bears, and hippos). Humorous, cartoonlike illustrations, straightforward text, lots of inserts, and snarky asides from a manatee, hyrax, and dugong jazz trio keep the information flowing, whether presented as random tidbits (elephants eat 18 hours a day) or double-page informational spreads (i.e., how elephants use their trunks, a comparison of African and Indian varieties). Amid the bad jokes and general hilarity, plenty of curriculum content sneaks in: evolution, habitat, food, gestation, parenting, lifespan, predators, and endangered status, succinctly summarized at the end. The illustrations are neatly labeled and reinforce the text, new vocabulary is seamlessly introduced within context, and there are suggestions for further research. Readers will effortlessly access all this new knowledge to impress family members and friends. As with Eaton's previous forays, this is sure to be an oft-requested crowd-pleaser.--Kathleen McBroom Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-This latest installment of "The Truth About" books opens with the punny boast that it contains "tons of information" about Earth's largest land animal. And indeed, it covers the basics of elephant types, traits, habitats, and behaviors. The true appeal of the book lies in its accessible style; librarians could use it as a playful counterpoint to Katherine Roy's comprehensive How To Be an Elephant. Eaton's work is unapologetically geared toward recreational nonfiction readers. Fans of the series will be pleased to find all of its usual motifs, including expressive cartoon illustrations, speech bubbles ("I get snacky at night," mumbles one elephant through a mouthful of leaves), easily digestible facts, and a wisecracking gallery of animals (this time featuring a manatee, a dugong, and a hyrax who form a jazz trio). Before concluding with a single spread of back matter, Eaton reminds readers that while humans pose the greatest threat to elephants, people can also help by reading, teaching, and speaking out on elephants' behalf. VERDICT A characteristically charming and browsable addition to the series. Consider for readers looking for a bit of information and humor.-Rebecca Honeycutt, NoveList, Durham, NC © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The fourth book in this seriously funny series for early-elementary-age readers follows the same winning formula as the first three (beginning with The Truth About Bears, rev. 5/18). After mentioning some prehistoric and contemporary elephant relatives, Eaton introduces the two main types of elephants, Asian and African, and notes a few physical differences between the two. The bulk of the book talks about elephants in general, covering diet, behavior, and defenses: When a herd of elephants senses danger, they huddle together, with the calves hiding between the adults legs. The conversational main narrative is supported by text boxes, signs, and speech bubbles, in which elephants and others offer additional facts and advance a silly subplot involving a jazz trio of elephant relatives (Doesnt anybody like smooth jazz? asks a sax-playing hyrax. Nobody does). The welcoming cartoon illustrations also effectively balance educating with entertaining. Theres a final plea for speaking out about the threats faced by elephants from humans; a concluding double-page elephant file includes field notes; cartoony photographs and drawings; and other bits of information, as well as short booklists for calves and cows and bulls. kitty Flynn January/February 2019 p 113(c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In his fourth book exploring "seriously funny facts about your favorite animals," Eaton delivers "tons of information" about elephants.Each spread provides essential and engaging facts on subtopics such as habitat, anatomy, diet, family structure, and behavior. One particularly effective spread shows the physiological differences between Asian elephants and African elephants, using arrows to point out differences between their trunks, toenails, ears, backs, and heads. With levity that never feels flippant, Eaton acknowledges that elephants' "biggest threat wears shoes" and devotes a spread to the many different ways humans threaten elephants' survival. The next spread encourages readers to consider ways that they can effect change: "The threats are enormous, but you can begin to help by reading about elephants, and then teaching others and speaking out. / Because elephants are worth it!" Excellent pacing and design result in a compelling read enhanced by digitally colored pen-and-ink cartoon illustrations filled with bold lines and bright colors. Talking animals and a brown-skinned child with a curly black ponytail provide light commentary on the facts presented in the main text, and readers may particularly enjoy the jazz (and joke) trio made up of the elephant's closest living relatives. The final spread contains a dossier of illustrated photographs and notes and a list of additional resources for "calves" and "cows and bulls."Like the rest of the series, charming, informative, and effective. (Informational picture book. 4-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
