'[Gives] both casual browsers and budding naturalists plenty to gnaw on... A rib-tickling gallery.' – Kirkus Reviews
'Both fascinating and informative. Different, intelligent and entertaining. Definitely worth buying.' – Chopsy Baby
'A nonfiction standout ... This fascination book will get kids jazzed about both bones and the cool animals.' – Imagination Soup
'A stylish introduction to how specialized and different bones can be.' – Publishers Weekly
'As you'd expect from Phaidon the illustrations are first class and they really caught my eye. It's record breakers of the animal kingdom from a bone perspective. I really like this approach as it is different from many of the other animal non-fiction books that we have and it brings in new facts and information for my little, fact-seeking sponge to soak up. One thing I liked about it is the question and answer approach ... A good-looking hardback book... Would make a lovely gift.' – Nine to Three Thirty
'The book is both engaging and informative with its superb illustrations and well written record breaking facts. Each page keeps you guessing which animal it could be with clever clues ... There are sure to be a few surprises in there too.' – Coombe Mill
'Captivatingly written as a guessing game, Book of Bones uses page turn reveals and touch-and-feel superimposed skeletons to bring bones to life.' – Term Times
'Captivatingly written as a brilliant guessing game ... Combining children's love of record-breaking date and animal trivia, Book of Bones is perfect for inquisitive minds and natural history lovers!' – Parent Talk
'Humorous and educational, stylish yet accurate... Takes a captivating, imaginative approach.' – Early Years Childcare Magazine
'Fun while also being full of serious information too ... While packed with information, this is certainly no dry text book. American author Gabrielle Balkan's narrative is engaging and witty ... The information ]is] interesting and absorbing... With eye-catching screen print-inspired artwork by Sam Brewster, Book of Bones is perfect for those with inquisitive minds and a love of natural history. It's a clever and humorous way of introducing and exploring the connection between bones, anatomy and the wider natural world.' – Outside in World
'Striking ... As the book was published by Phaidon, you know the illustrations will be appealing. Brewster's illustrations strike the perfect balance between simple and detailed.' – Book Riot
'It's got good bones.' – Fatherly
'A brilliant exploration that will fascinate young readers in guessing what the animal is from their distinctive skeleton and fun facts. It's all accompanied by striking illustrations of the animal and their environment. .. A great and accessible introduction to the world of anatomy and the wider natural world for inquisitive minds.' – BooksTrust
'Curious readers will get a kick out of this fun guessing game that takes 10 members of the animal kingdom and re-introduces them from the inside out.' – Meghan Dietsche Goel, Children's Book Buyer and Programming Director, BookPeople, Austin
'This entertaining introduction to the connection between animal bones (anatomy) and behavior is playful, relatable, and includes touch-and-feel finishes that bring the bones to life!' – Kid Around
'[An] oversize skeletal feast ... Fun ... An interesting approach to animal interiors for classroom teachers.' – School Library Journal
'This humorous and informative exploration of animal anatomy presents fascinating animal trivia alongside vivid, tactile illustrations sure to captivate young fact-finders.' – SFGate
'A gorgeously tactile book aimed at five to eight-year-olds ... It will captivate both animal fans and fact-lovers alike, while its clever illustrations and humour make it a page-turner.' – WI
'A visually elegant introduction to evolutionary specialization that's both playful and thought-provoking.' – Natural History Magazine
'For older and more inquisitive kids this beautifully illustrated and educational book explores the connection between bones, and the wider natural world.' – Pregnancy and Parenting Magazine
"Will keep any reader hooked with ten animals that are introduced in a fun guessing game. Look at the clues, examine the skeletons and work out which animal they belong to. This is a humorous and colourful book that is sure to be a hit." —GlobalMouse.com
"This is a splendid book... An excellent introduction to skeletal anatomy." —Montessori International
12/01/2017
Gr 2–4—A select menu of 10 disparate species has been selected for this oversize skeletal feast. The biggest, the fewest, the spikiest, the thinnest—all appear in stark white against inky black pages, with a colorful "Who Am I?" at the bottom, enticing readers to guess. Helpfully, the opposite page contains a paragraph of facts narrated by the critter in question, with three lifestyle clues thrown in to aim readers in the right direction. Turn the page (after guessing—no cheating!) to a colorful depiction of the living creature in its natural habitat, with another chatty paragraph of facts for the curious of mind. The blue whale, the reticulated giraffe, and the African bush elephant are among the usual suspects, but also included are such surprises as the Etruscan shrew, the peregrine falcon, and the great hammerhead shark. (Thrown in as a bonus is a page of a human skeleton for comparison.) Team this with Steve Jenkins's nifty Bones: Skeletons and How They Work and Rob Colson's attractive Bone Collection: Animals for a handsome trip to the boneyard. VERDICT Fun for the home-schooled, and an interesting approach to animal interiors for classroom teachers.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
