Fake Out!: Animals That Play Tricks

All Aboard Science Reader: Station Stop 2

by Ginjer L. Clarke, Pete Mueller (Illustrations)

Did you know that the mimic octopus can change its shape, skin color, and texture to match its surroundings, or that there is a type of goat that faints whenever it feels threatened? Find out about these and other creatures with bizarre behaviors in our farout book by Ginjer L. Clarke!

Genres: Childrens, Science, Nonfiction, Animals

48 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

Ginjer L. Clarke writes fun, fact-filled nonfiction beginning readers about weird, wonderful animals. Her love for strange creatures started early, as the first story she remembers writing in the third grade was “The Strange Animal” about a small, pink-spotted imaginary creature called a Woofa. She loves that her job entails visiting zoos and aquariums, reading lots of books, and even watching TV for research. And she can work at home in her pajamas, which is a lifelong dream!

Ginjer’s books, most of which are part of Grosset & Dunlap’s All Aboard Science Reader series, have sold a combined total of more than 2 million copies worldwide. Her books Freak Out! and Gross Out! were on Publisher’s Weekly’s 2006 and 2007 lists of top 100 best-selling children’s books. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Booklist, Horn Book, School Library Journal, Children’s Literature, and regional newspapers and magazines, and are featured in Scholastic and Bedford Falls Book Fairs. Her book Platypus! (Random House Step into Reading) was awarded the Maryland Library Association’s 2005 Blue Crab Young Reader Award for Nonfiction and was selected by the National Science Teachers Association as recommended classroom reading.

Ginjer is an experienced and lively school, library, and conference presenter, who has appeared at more than 100 elementary schools, regional reading and writing conferences, statewide book festivals, many bookstores and libraries, and even a zoo. She is a graduate of James Madison University and lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, young son, and several silly-looking pets.

Reviews

[Tranylle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved learning about all the clever animals out there in the world. They kept each description short and interesting.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Fake Out! by Ginjer Clarke at an independent bookstore in Ballard and loved it. It's a transitional reader that highlights animals like the Cuttlefish (puts on a freaky light show to fake out predators), Porcupine Fish (blows up like a balloon) and more. The idea of "faking out" predators is very appealing to young readers.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really nicely written 'Science book without being in your face Science book'. My nearly 4 year old granddaughter and I read this and discussed the various animals and what they do naturally. It wasn't scary like some Science books are for her age group and was written with lots of descriptions but not so much that a young mind couldn't understand.

[ѦѺ™ · Rating 5 out of 5]

though this book is designed for readers 4-7, it can teach a lot of things to adults too about how animals fake it out to survive. there are ant-mimic spiders, caddis worms and even fainting goats! my nephew loved this book as i read it along with him!

[Matthew Mealer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all about how animals use their colors and shapes to scare off or trick other animals. (Camouflage) Great self read for children in second and third grade. Boys especially.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked learning about the different animals in this book! I liked how some animals were tricky and could change their appearances. The puffer fish is one example.