Find Out About Animal Tools

Find Out About

by Martin Jenkins, Jane McGuinness (Illustrator)

Otters that break open shells on their chests? Crows that make hooks to snare grubs? Discover the surprising (and sometimes sneaky!) ways that animals use tools.

Many animals use tools in ingenious ways—some use sticks, others use stones, and some can even sew! The archerfish spits jets of water to knock down its prey. The palm cockatoo makes drumsticks to impress its mate with a beat. The burrowing owl attracts beetles by decorating its doorway with dung, and chimpanzees skillfully wield grass stems to fish out termites. In their fourth book in the Find Out About series, Martin Jenkins and Jane McGuinness look at a range of clever tools that show just how inventive animals can be. An end note offers more fascinating details for curious readers.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science, Stem

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 9, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle]

SUPER CUTE ART!!!!! And good animal facts. I even learned new things from this book and I have a degree in zoology!

[Christine Joy]

Cool. I love our funky cousins using tools

[Lorie]

For many years it was thought that only humans used tools, but scientists now know that many species of the animal kingdom use tools to do many things. This informational picture book will introduce this scientific principle to young readers ages 4-8.

Each chosen animal has a large two page spread that shows how the animal uses their tool. A simple sentence in large read aloud type face describes what the animal is doing, and then in smaller type a few more sentences give the reader the name of the animal and what their intention is with the tool.

The illustrations were done in a mixed media, with no description of the types used but appear to be some artist crayon or chalk that gives images a dream like look. A soft color palate full of creams, earthy greens, and blue dominate to make the illustrations friendly for young children.

A good introduction on the title page, as well as a supplemental page that discusses more about how animals use tools can expand the learning opportunities. Children can also practice using an index to find the pages for a specific animal that they would like to learn about.

I would recommend this book for purchase by elementary school and public libraries. The book along with its three companion titles by the same author and illustrator will be a wonderful addition to any reading in classrooms and libraries.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Linda]

It seems that this may be a book for an adult and a young child, an interesting introduction to animals who use tools, too! In double-page spreads with large, colorful, and realistic illustrations by Jane McGuinness, Martin Jenkins writes a brief sentence on the left about the animal in large print. On the right is a more complicated explanation in smaller print with the illustration. There are a few with both on one page. Animals included are bowerbirds, sea otters, and chimpanzees, the one identified as the animal that used tools more than any other. A delightful surprise ends the book, and there is an index. It will be a great beginning learning for young readers. If slightly older, they may want to discover more through added research.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for my copy!

[Rey]

Such a cute and informative book about the different tools some animals use. I really appreciated its reminder that humans are animals too, hence our tool usage. The illustrations were great, and I really was intrigued by some of the facts, especially the sewing one.

Read this for my library school program for a class thats requiring I read 50 picture books of varying types.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris]

Brief summary: This nonfiction picture book teaches young readers how animals use various tools to find food, attract mates, or build homes.

Comments: The illustrations were created using mixed media.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[P.J.’s Top Picks]

Animal Tools is a great early elementary book that tells about tools that animals use to make nests, open eggs, etc. Great educational read!

[Sarah]

animal design/ habitat units- shows a variety of habitats and animal behaviors according to their design- cute and engaging pictures.

[Marcia]

Find Out About Animal Tools is a lovely book with cute illustrations. It is written clearly for the very young. I like how it is formatted with a simple sentence or two before the illustration and then a more in-depth explanation either right after the illustration or on the right-hand side of the spread. A nice purchase for families and libraries. Thank you to Candlewick Press for sharing this book with me!