Hidden Animal Colors

by Jane Park

Description
Why should the bright and flashy animals get all of the attention? If you look closely at some seemingly ordinary animals, you may find a colorful surprise. A lizard is brown. A hippo is gray. But wait! The lizard has a blue tongue to scare predators, and the hippo has pink "sweat" that protects it from the sun! Brilliant photos accompany author Jane Park's rhyming nonfiction text in this playful exploration of animals' hidden colors.

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

Hardcover

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one cool picture book, even for adults. It starts out saying, yeah, we know there are really colorful animals out there, but I bet you didn't know about these animals that have color in unusual places. Like the lizard the Blue-Tongued Skink, who has a blue tongue, or a dull bird, the Tinamou, who lays bright green eggs.

It gives us a look at things that we may not think to look for. Did you know that Beavers have iron in their teeth that makes them look orange?

Great fun for kids and for adults, as they find out what animals use to startle preditors,

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this delightful and educational Nonfiction children's book, designated for children Kindergarten to Grade 3. Even this adult learned. Children will be inspired to study Nature and learn to look beyond the surface. Photographs of animals and amphibians each offer a pleasant colorful surprise.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant photos accompany Jane Park’s rhyming nonfiction text in this playful exploration of animals’ hidden colors. I am going to enjoy sharing this book with my students.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids REALLY loved seeing all of the different colors in nature. Using photos of real life wildlife made this a double win (and a different illustration medium) when in storytime.

[J. Robinson-Readersgottoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

This informational treat combines the concept of camouflage with colors in a fun way. It does not cover all the primary and basic colors, but they can be found in the images. The stunning photographs range from up close to a little far away, so readers can see the detail of what is being covered in the page. One of the exciting features of the book is the guessing element which involves rhyming words. Ex. in first person a snake shares on one page how “when I was young. To SCARE away predators...." and then when you turn the page, his blue, vibrant tongue is out with the words " I STICK OUT MY TONGUE!" (making young and tongue a pair). This is the first, highlighted animal and will give readers an indication of the lighter tone of the title, as they see the hidden colors of animals. Ten creatures can be seen and range from an insect to a mammal. Some of the text is in large, bold lettering, and they are usually adjectives or verbs. A thoughtful activity page about camouflage and a glossary rounds out this sure-fire hit.

Thanks to Millbrook Press and NetGalley for the e-galley. I read the published edition for this review. My ratings and reviews are my own.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated non-fiction book aimed at younger elementary aged students, featuring animals showing off their striking, as well as useful, colors. Larger and bolder fonts emphasize each creature’s name and the purpose for its unique coloring, sentence structure is simple and the photographs outstanding. This is a “first choice” purchase for librarians looking to increase selections in the animal sciences section for grades K-3. A glossary, further reading and a picture-driven, follow-up quiz add the extras needed to keep readers at the older end of that range engaged.

Thanks for the print arc, Millbrook Press/Lerner Publishing Group.

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers so much! Not only is it a great, memorable lesson in color identification, there are also lots of descriptive words to enrich students' vocabulary. The variety of animals will keep kids' attention and simple explanations of why animals are colored the way they are is a nice introduction to zoology.

The photos of the animals are amazing! They're crisp, clear, huge, and detailed. Students will be fascinated with what they see while they read. This would be an excellent book for pre-K and early elementary and would make a great addition to school and classroom libraries.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[A Broken Zebra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative, quick fun read that both excites and educates. The layout is excellent; great flow, nice fonts, superb photography. What research went into this is well executed and there are resources in the back of the book.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the photographs in this title are beautiful, several very unfamiliar animals are included and basically little information about the color factor of each species is not discussed in any depth, basically one or two facts about each animal. Beavers have orange teeth from having iron in them which makes their teeth strong. The more a mandrill gets upset the more intense the color on its nose area and butt area intensifies. And yes the text does rhyme.

[Jenny Lacika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, rhyming text with interesting info about various animals and also a prompt to spend time looking closely at the world around you. I really enjoyed the variety in the animals and the different locations/reasons they have color, as well as the structure that introduces a concept on one spread and reveals the color as a surprise.

[Cindy Overcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIDDEN ANIMAL COLORS combines photos from nature with interesting facts about some of the hidden colors to be found in otherwise ordinary looking animals. The back of the book helps explain the various reasons for animals to have these hidden colorations. There’s also a glossary and suggestions for further reading.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. This book is recommended for K-3rd grade. It is a fun book for adults and kids alike! There are so many cool animals in nature that kids don't ever get to see. This book points out some of the animals that have vivid coloring that is not often noticed by onlookers. A fun and educational read.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of animals & all colors, perfect for sharing as openers in toddler/preK storytimes.
Animals highlighted are: beaver, butterfly, crab, hippo, lizard, skink, tinamou.

Themes: animals, colors
Ages: toddler-1st grade
Pub year: 2022

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Beautiful full color photos, of course. And I learned quite a lot. So did Joey. And he's asked to reread it three nights in a row, which is a great endorsement.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great non-fiction picture book! I love the photographic illustrations.

[Becca Rutkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for K-3 read aloud !

[Michelle Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adding this to my storytime rotation when I talk about colors!

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew beavers and other rodents *had* orange incisors, but never knew it was because of iron!

[Claire Wrobel]

found from SLJ list: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2022...

[Danielle Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photography with some unique facts about the animals.

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting meditation on animal colors. I did not know that hippos “sweat” pink! Not my favorite of the nominees, but a cool book.

2025 Monarch Nominees Mia’s Year of Books: Day 32

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos of a variety of animals explaining various different colorings.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

good. Unusual animals, but it was good for a wide spread of kids

[Norshakila Makmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful photos.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photography in this book!

A 2025 Monarch Award (Illinois) nominee.