
Reach for this book when your child starts expressing a fascination with the weird, the gross, or the 'yucky' side of the natural world. It is the perfect choice for a young reader who finds traditional nature books a bit too polite and wants to dive into the gritty reality of how animals survive. Steve Jenkins uses his signature paper-cut collage style to introduce a variety of creatures that use foul odors as a biological superpower. While the topic is humorous and high-interest, the book provides a sophisticated look at evolutionary adaptations and predator-prey dynamics. It is developmentally ideal for elementary-aged children who are building their scientific vocabulary and beginning to appreciate the diverse, sometimes messy, ways that nature functions.
The book is secular and scientific. It touches on predator-prey relationships (the reality that animals eat each other), but the paper-collage art style keeps the imagery from being gory or frightening.
A 7-year-old who loves 'Guinness World Records' style facts and is currently in a phase of finding bathroom humor hilarious, but who also has a genuine spark for biology.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe book can be read cold. Parents might want to practice pronouncing some of the more obscure animal names (like 'Millipede' or 'Tamandua') to keep the flow during read-alouds. A parent might reach for this after hearing their child say 'Ew, gross!' at a bug or animal, or if the child is struggling to engage with 'boring' school science texts.
Six-year-olds will be captivated by the vibrant, textured art and the 'gross' factor of the stinks. Eight and nine-year-olds will engage more with the specific mechanics, such as chemical reactions in beetles or the diet-based scents of certain birds.
Unlike many 'gross-out' books that rely on cartoonish illustrations, Jenkins uses sophisticated, museum-quality paper-cut art. This elevates the subject matter, making it feel like a serious work of natural history despite the stinky topic.
This nonfiction title focuses on the olfactory defenses and hunting tactics of various animals. From the well-known skunk to the obscure hoatzin bird or the bombardier beetle, each entry explains the biological 'why' behind the stink. It functions as a gallery of adaptation, showing how scent serves as a communication tool and a survival mechanism.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.