I am a potato

An unidentified creature is confronted with an identity crisis. With rounded ears, whiskers, a plump stomach, and a long tail, our protagonist, who resembles nothing so much as a rodent, confidently states, "I am a potato!" (Kids will immediately giggle.) A red dog enters the scene and counters: "No. You're not a potato." But what, exactly, are they? A yellow cat walks over to ask a few questions. Everyone agrees that the creature is an animal. A celebration ensues. "I AM AN ANIMAL!" But wait. What kind of animal? A penguin and rabbit join the conversation. "Do you have hair?" "Did you hatch out of an egg?" "Do you like eating meat?" As the youngster answers each one, the animals narrow down the possibilities: "Okay, you're not a reptile. You're a mammal." "You're definitely not a cat or dog." Readers will glean a few animal facts along the way. Set against a stark white backdrop, the geometrically shaped, primary-colored animals are strikingly simple as they parse out the truth (readers will delight in pointing out the different treats the cat eats throughout the story). The book finally comes to a dramatic conclusion, everyone responds with excitement, and a real potato makes an appearance. An entertaining tale that pushes readers to hone their inquiry and critical thinking skills. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.