What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Are You Calling Weird?: A Celebration of Weird & Wonderful Animals
Celebrate the weird, wonderful, and the downright bizarre in this compelling compendium of unusual animals. From the green fur of a three-toed sloth, to the pink and wiggly appendage of the star-nosed mole, there’s something new to marvel at on every page.
Delve into the forests, burrow under the ground, and dive into the deep to discover nature's most peculiar creatures and learn about their behavior, diet, and habitat, as well as folk beliefs about each animal.
Hidden away in Earth’s forests, caves, and oceans, these creatures might look or behave in peculiar ways but, as you will soon find out, every oddity serves a purpose : Come face-to-face with the most curious creatures from across the globe, and decide for yourself who’s the weirdest of them all.
Delve into the forests, burrow under the ground, and dive into the deep to discover nature's most peculiar creatures and learn about their behavior, diet, and habitat, as well as folk beliefs about each animal.
Hidden away in Earth’s forests, caves, and oceans, these creatures might look or behave in peculiar ways but, as you will soon find out, every oddity serves a purpose : Come face-to-face with the most curious creatures from across the globe, and decide for yourself who’s the weirdest of them all.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 23, 2018
57 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn Singer
167 books101 followersMarilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.
Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.
Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.
In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.
Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.
Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 30, 2019
Another 5-star read for me- must be the selection bias:-)
I found myself looking at the Internet images of these animals- just couldn't get enough of their wonderful weirdness. My top 5 are: Lemurs, Dumbo Octopus, Boxer Crab, Hoatzin, and the animal I am particularly partial to- three-toed Sloth! You are really spoilt for choice with this marvellous book.
You learn about the behaviour, diet, and habitat of 21 unusual creatures. We are all unique but our oddities serve their purpose. Take the 21st creature described in this book- it walks upright, lacks feathers or fur and makes most peculiar sounds. Yes, it's Human.
Beautiful quirky illustrations, informative text. I would have loved a book like this when I was a child.It would make a great addition to any school library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
I found myself looking at the Internet images of these animals- just couldn't get enough of their wonderful weirdness. My top 5 are: Lemurs, Dumbo Octopus, Boxer Crab, Hoatzin, and the animal I am particularly partial to- three-toed Sloth! You are really spoilt for choice with this marvellous book.
You learn about the behaviour, diet, and habitat of 21 unusual creatures. We are all unique but our oddities serve their purpose. Take the 21st creature described in this book- it walks upright, lacks feathers or fur and makes most peculiar sounds. Yes, it's Human.
Beautiful quirky illustrations, informative text. I would have loved a book like this when I was a child.It would make a great addition to any school library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
February 20, 2019
This one was just okay for me. On the plus side, the book contains a lot of information and fun facts on less commonly written about animals. Little ones who love gobbling up facts will probably really enjoy this one.
On the other hand, the book seems a bit long considering the writing style. It feels like a book that should be read to someone, but it's definitely not one you'd want to tackle in one sitting! Maybe it would work for new readers who are doing the read aloud thing where reading about one animal a night might work.
Each two-page spread features an illustration and blurb about a different animal, but I really did not like the illustrations here. This book is about unusual animals, animals that are not usually featured in kids' books. I would have far preferred to see realistic art or photos to go along with all the factual information here.
So this is just an average book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with a DRC of this book.
On the other hand, the book seems a bit long considering the writing style. It feels like a book that should be read to someone, but it's definitely not one you'd want to tackle in one sitting! Maybe it would work for new readers who are doing the read aloud thing where reading about one animal a night might work.
Each two-page spread features an illustration and blurb about a different animal, but I really did not like the illustrations here. This book is about unusual animals, animals that are not usually featured in kids' books. I would have far preferred to see realistic art or photos to go along with all the factual information here.
So this is just an average book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with a DRC of this book.
January 30, 2019
I learned so much from this book! I didn't know that farmers really fear Aye-Aye's, a sort of lemur that taps his middle finger on trees to catch his prey using echolocation. So somewhere an Aye-Aye must have flipped the bird on a farmer!
The images are just amazing. Great attention to the drawings and the backgrounds, and very unique. I've never seen the animals depicted like this, but they're still recognisable. My favourite ones are the Boxer Crab and the Leafy Sea Dragon, so cute and fascinating. The bits of information are just right, not too long or too difficult.
One of my new favourites!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free
The images are just amazing. Great attention to the drawings and the backgrounds, and very unique. I've never seen the animals depicted like this, but they're still recognisable. My favourite ones are the Boxer Crab and the Leafy Sea Dragon, so cute and fascinating. The bits of information are just right, not too long or too difficult.
One of my new favourites!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free
January 12, 2019
A few years ago I became mildly obsessed with a documentary series called Weird Creatures with Nick Baker. It sparked an interest in wonderfully weird animals I’d never heard of before or knew very little about, so this book essentially jumped out at me.
From the Pacific barreleye with its see-through head to the leafy sea dragon that looks like seaweed, this book provides an introduction to some of the world’s most unusual animals. It even includes a couple of my favourites, the star-nosed mole and the three-toed sloth.
I enjoyed the down to earth, conversational tone of the writing and the focus on conservation and how each animals’ differences help them, e.g., for camouflage or protection. I discovered some animals within the pages that were new to me and learned some interesting facts about some I was already familiar with.
The illustrations were colourful and fun with a dash of quirkiness. I would have liked to have seen a photo gallery accompanying them though (perhaps at the end of the book) as I found myself searching for photos of the animals that were new to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - words & pictures for the opportunity to read this book.
From the Pacific barreleye with its see-through head to the leafy sea dragon that looks like seaweed, this book provides an introduction to some of the world’s most unusual animals. It even includes a couple of my favourites, the star-nosed mole and the three-toed sloth.
I enjoyed the down to earth, conversational tone of the writing and the focus on conservation and how each animals’ differences help them, e.g., for camouflage or protection. I discovered some animals within the pages that were new to me and learned some interesting facts about some I was already familiar with.
The illustrations were colourful and fun with a dash of quirkiness. I would have liked to have seen a photo gallery accompanying them though (perhaps at the end of the book) as I found myself searching for photos of the animals that were new to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - words & pictures for the opportunity to read this book.
February 20, 2019
I found this really interesting! It had a lot of cool information on some beings that might not ordinarily get the spotlight. I especially enjoyed learning about the Pangolin and Tenrec which were both animals I had no previous knowledge of.
That being said I think this is a bit wordy for kids.
I had trouble finishing it in one sitting since it was fairly time consuming for a picture book.
It would be better served reading one animal a day or using this as a reference book in a classroom.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - words & pictures for this DRC.
That being said I think this is a bit wordy for kids.
I had trouble finishing it in one sitting since it was fairly time consuming for a picture book.
It would be better served reading one animal a day or using this as a reference book in a classroom.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - words & pictures for this DRC.
January 10, 2019
A selection of some of the remarkable creatures on our planet with colourful illustrations. And an important reminder about the diversity of nature and animals - including the place of the weird, imperfect, two legged creature known as a human.
I read #WhoAreYouCallingWeird via #Netgalley.
I read #WhoAreYouCallingWeird via #Netgalley.
December 26, 2018
The title draws you in to the weird world of odd looking animals. The pictures are very colorful but the text is a little on the wordy side, for a picture book.
But it is an interesting collection of animals, and informative to boot. A good introduction to animals that kids might never have heard of, including a joke at the end of how humans are the weirdest animal of all.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
But it is an interesting collection of animals, and informative to boot. A good introduction to animals that kids might never have heard of, including a joke at the end of how humans are the weirdest animal of all.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
December 11, 2018
I’m not the biggest fans of informative books with illustrations. If you wanted to present weird animal, why not give it a real documentary book with good quality pictures of these animals. The text in itself is good, clear and easy to read for young reader with good information on original/weird animal that we don’t see that often or hear about. Not a bad book at all, I just don’t agree with the artistic vision of it, the mixed of style.
April 24, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
I'm always a little bit thrown when a children's book has a lot of text in it. And I think it's more that I don't expect it than that I have any issues with extensive writing, but at the same time I can tell instantaneously that books like this really just don't work well for the young children I typically picture when I pick up a children's book. I'll be honest, I could never in a million years see my four-year-old niece sitting long enough for me to read this to her, let alone to care enough about the rather advanced language in it.
Who Are You Calling Weird? by Marilyn Singer has a really important message about things we find strange within the world, one that tells young kids that there is always something wonderful about each creature regardless of how subjectively strange they may seem. And I think that's a great thing to learn at a young age, especially in the context of comparing ourselves and understanding that a little weirdness in ourselves is still a good thing and we can appreciate it in everyone.
The artwork in this book is phenomenal and definitely eye-catching. I do think the age range for this book is hard to pin down because it's not for young kids but it's also not for older ones. I think I'd cut it off at puberty years, to be honest, and perhaps give this sort of book to an eight-year-old. Which, depending on the eight-year-old, this book could be perfect for them. It's a good book in the long run, just not what I expected.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
I'm always a little bit thrown when a children's book has a lot of text in it. And I think it's more that I don't expect it than that I have any issues with extensive writing, but at the same time I can tell instantaneously that books like this really just don't work well for the young children I typically picture when I pick up a children's book. I'll be honest, I could never in a million years see my four-year-old niece sitting long enough for me to read this to her, let alone to care enough about the rather advanced language in it.
Who Are You Calling Weird? by Marilyn Singer has a really important message about things we find strange within the world, one that tells young kids that there is always something wonderful about each creature regardless of how subjectively strange they may seem. And I think that's a great thing to learn at a young age, especially in the context of comparing ourselves and understanding that a little weirdness in ourselves is still a good thing and we can appreciate it in everyone.
The artwork in this book is phenomenal and definitely eye-catching. I do think the age range for this book is hard to pin down because it's not for young kids but it's also not for older ones. I think I'd cut it off at puberty years, to be honest, and perhaps give this sort of book to an eight-year-old. Which, depending on the eight-year-old, this book could be perfect for them. It's a good book in the long run, just not what I expected.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
December 28, 2018
This is an awesome children’s nonfiction book with colorful pictures and descriptions of some very unique animals from around the world. Want to learn some fun facts about a three-toed sloth, a narwhal, or maybe learn about something completely different about a hairy frogfish or a leafy sea dragon, then this is the book for you!
My favorite animal in the book was the pangolin! I’d never even heard of one before, and apparently it’s the most hunted animal in the world! It is covered in scales similar to armor and when it is under attack it can roll up into a ball for protection! Wow!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this e-copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
I will feature this book on my blog on Sunday December 30, 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLcole@yahoo.com
My favorite animal in the book was the pangolin! I’d never even heard of one before, and apparently it’s the most hunted animal in the world! It is covered in scales similar to armor and when it is under attack it can roll up into a ball for protection! Wow!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this e-copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
I will feature this book on my blog on Sunday December 30, 2018.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLcole@yahoo.com
January 1, 2019
The first thing you see is that this is dedicated to David Attenborough, which makes sense, as this book tackles the strangest animals. The artwork fits the theme, almost in art deco style.
The platypus has gotten enough publicity, kinda normalizing it, that it seems out of place here. Same with the sea unicorn (aka narwhal). Kiwis and sloths too, especially the latter for kids who’ve seen Zootopia a thousand times. But thankfully most of those included are indeed completely strange. A couple are compared to superheroes, though when Wolverine was mentioned I first assumed it was the animal, which is weird in its own right but not enough to make it in here.
The leafy sea dragon gets my vote for most deserving entry; seeing it moving in a video is even more so. That smelly Amazon bird sure has a good defense against humans, especially in that they taste bad. . . though by the time the humans figure that out, it’s too late.
And speaking of, so glad you stinky humans made the list! The artwork that goes with this entry is the scariest of all. . .
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
The platypus has gotten enough publicity, kinda normalizing it, that it seems out of place here. Same with the sea unicorn (aka narwhal). Kiwis and sloths too, especially the latter for kids who’ve seen Zootopia a thousand times. But thankfully most of those included are indeed completely strange. A couple are compared to superheroes, though when Wolverine was mentioned I first assumed it was the animal, which is weird in its own right but not enough to make it in here.
The leafy sea dragon gets my vote for most deserving entry; seeing it moving in a video is even more so. That smelly Amazon bird sure has a good defense against humans, especially in that they taste bad. . . though by the time the humans figure that out, it’s too late.
And speaking of, so glad you stinky humans made the list! The artwork that goes with this entry is the scariest of all. . .
3.5 pushed up to 4/5
January 27, 2019
This is one of those non-fiction books that reluctant readers (especially boys) will love. The weirder the better, and this book shows some. There are animals that I had never heard of and some that I had seen in zoos and aquariums, but I still learned something about most of the animals highlighted.
From the Pacific barreleye with its see-through head to the Hairy Frogfish that's spine has added tentacle that look like worms, this book provides an introduction to some of the world’s most unusual animals. Some are a little more well known such as a platypus, three-toed sloth or kiwi, but there was still information about those animals that I did not know. We learn that each odd behaviour or peculiar visual characteristic has a purpose such as for hunting, camouflage, protection etc. Learning about each animal’s behaviour, diet, habitat, and some human beliefs about the creature is punctuated by a large illustration of the animal. My one big disappointment is that there are no actual photographs of any of the animals, a sure 5 star is that had been present. Of course I would be remiss not to mention the focus on conservation and how each animals’ survival may be endangered and the reasons why. This is a fun and interesting book to introduce kids to some of the weird animals in the world and pique their interest in learning more about adaptations, environmental awareness and animal protection. A sure winner in a school or class library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
From the Pacific barreleye with its see-through head to the Hairy Frogfish that's spine has added tentacle that look like worms, this book provides an introduction to some of the world’s most unusual animals. Some are a little more well known such as a platypus, three-toed sloth or kiwi, but there was still information about those animals that I did not know. We learn that each odd behaviour or peculiar visual characteristic has a purpose such as for hunting, camouflage, protection etc. Learning about each animal’s behaviour, diet, habitat, and some human beliefs about the creature is punctuated by a large illustration of the animal. My one big disappointment is that there are no actual photographs of any of the animals, a sure 5 star is that had been present. Of course I would be remiss not to mention the focus on conservation and how each animals’ survival may be endangered and the reasons why. This is a fun and interesting book to introduce kids to some of the weird animals in the world and pique their interest in learning more about adaptations, environmental awareness and animal protection. A sure winner in a school or class library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
December 24, 2018
Our kids are both animals lover and also very curious about the world around them. They were fascinated by not only the beautiful illustrations in this book but also the ample about of detailed information about each animal. We learned so many new things and they loved reading about some animals they had previously heard of and some that were entirely new to us. Our kids are 6 and 8 and found this super engaging and I would think most grade school children would find this a super fun book to read as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 14, 2019
Marilyn Singer has created some amazing poetry books on a plethora of topics. The artwork paired with her text is always superb. These facts are true with this non-fiction title as well. Paul Daviz paints beautiful animals that accompany Singer’s information on highly unusual adaptions of animals from across the globe. But some of them are so imaginative that I am left wondering what the very real animal truly looks like, i.e., the star-nosed mole with his nose and claws featured so prominently that I only have an inkling about his true appearance because I have seen one in zoos or in non-fiction books with more life-like illustrations or actual photographs. Students in grades 3-5 who couple love of art with love of animals may appreciate this one, but non-fiction for most of my students needs to be more realistic. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.
January 21, 2019
Who Are You Calling Weird: A Celebration of Weird & Wonderful Animals by Marilyn Singer is a wonderful children's book that celebrates the weird but wonderful creatures that are hidden away in Earth’s forests, caves, and oceans. These animals might look or behave in peculiar ways but, every oddity serves a purpose. From the green fur of a three-toed sloth, to the pink and wiggly appendage of the star-nosed mole, there’s something new to marvel at on every page. As well as finding out about each animal’s behavior, diet, and habitat, readers will also discover the folk beliefs about the creature.
Who Are You Calling Weird is a delightful book, both visually and intellectually. My favorite bits of history and science have always centered on the weird and wonderful, and this book covered most of my favorite delightfully add creatures, and some that I had somehow missed. I think the combination of narrative fact sharing and lovely images come together in a way that will capture the interest and imagination of most readers, as it certainly captured mine. I love that fairly well know odd animals were covered, such as the aye-aye and three toed sloth. However, my favorite (the pangolin) and some less know creatures were given their due as well. I was extremely glad to see some sea creatures I had never known about before explored, and information that was new to me on some creatures that I thought I knew well.
Who Are You Calling Weird is an engaging book that can capture the reader's imagination. It inspired me to look a bit closer at some animals I thought I knew, and hopefully it will inspire young readers to explore the natural world a bit closer, and with a bit of wonder and urge to research more.
Who Are You Calling Weird is a delightful book, both visually and intellectually. My favorite bits of history and science have always centered on the weird and wonderful, and this book covered most of my favorite delightfully add creatures, and some that I had somehow missed. I think the combination of narrative fact sharing and lovely images come together in a way that will capture the interest and imagination of most readers, as it certainly captured mine. I love that fairly well know odd animals were covered, such as the aye-aye and three toed sloth. However, my favorite (the pangolin) and some less know creatures were given their due as well. I was extremely glad to see some sea creatures I had never known about before explored, and information that was new to me on some creatures that I thought I knew well.
Who Are You Calling Weird is an engaging book that can capture the reader's imagination. It inspired me to look a bit closer at some animals I thought I knew, and hopefully it will inspire young readers to explore the natural world a bit closer, and with a bit of wonder and urge to research more.
December 13, 2018
Description
This visually compelling book celebrates the weird but wonderful creatures that are hidden away in Earth’s forests, caves, and oceans. These animals might look or behave in peculiar ways but, as the reader will soon find out, every oddity serves a purpose. From the green fur of a three-toed sloth, to the pink and wiggly appendage of the star-nosed mole, there’s something new to marvel at on every page. As well as finding out about each animal’s behavior, diet, and habitat, readers will also discover the folk beliefs about the creature.
My review:
... very interesting and nice book, the illustrations are beautiful and the facts are useful too - I looked up for the Barreleye Fish, what a cutie! Could be interesting for bedtime stories - chapters are short.
BUT I would rather see the actual animal on a photo than those illustrations - or both...
Note 3 or B-
Thanks to Netgalley and the Author for letting me review this book!!!
This visually compelling book celebrates the weird but wonderful creatures that are hidden away in Earth’s forests, caves, and oceans. These animals might look or behave in peculiar ways but, as the reader will soon find out, every oddity serves a purpose. From the green fur of a three-toed sloth, to the pink and wiggly appendage of the star-nosed mole, there’s something new to marvel at on every page. As well as finding out about each animal’s behavior, diet, and habitat, readers will also discover the folk beliefs about the creature.
My review:
... very interesting and nice book, the illustrations are beautiful and the facts are useful too - I looked up for the Barreleye Fish, what a cutie! Could be interesting for bedtime stories - chapters are short.
BUT I would rather see the actual animal on a photo than those illustrations - or both...
Note 3 or B-
Thanks to Netgalley and the Author for letting me review this book!!!
January 31, 2019
This is a very interesting nonfiction picture book, that would be interesting if working with K-4th grade students, though your 5-8 year-olds will also enjoy reading it individually, or with a parent. That facts are fascinating. For example, sloths are 3 times faster in the water and can hold their breath up to 40 minutes. This totally surprised me, as I didn’t even know sloths went into the water.
The delivery is simple and easy to understand. A lot of good vocabulary is introduced, and I met animals I had never even heard of before. This covers all different biomes and habitats, which makes it more interesting.
This book could be great when used with a storytime group or class, in part, or in full. You could easily break it down and read about one new animal each session. It would also be useful for students doing basic research on interesting animals, as they provide some good information that is easy to understand and use.
I really enjoyed this book!
The delivery is simple and easy to understand. A lot of good vocabulary is introduced, and I met animals I had never even heard of before. This covers all different biomes and habitats, which makes it more interesting.
This book could be great when used with a storytime group or class, in part, or in full. You could easily break it down and read about one new animal each session. It would also be useful for students doing basic research on interesting animals, as they provide some good information that is easy to understand and use.
I really enjoyed this book!
December 12, 2018
Who are you calling weird? Is a wonderful written and illustrated book about fun and unique animals such as the aye-aye which is a lemur that many thought was a rat or a dumbo octopus which has big round fins and lives near the bottom of the ocean. The book also has hammer-headed bats, a platypus, flat-headed agamas lizards, hairy frogs, helmeted hornbills, three-toed sloths, and many more. Each animal has a colorfully illustrated picture, explaination, how the animal is unique, and describes their environment. At the end of the book it also lists websites for further information on the animals and other animals you can research such as the National Geographic site and the World Wildlife Fund.
January 17, 2022
Learn about 21 Weird and Wonderful Animals that inhabit this world.
What makes these creatures stand out as weird?
Did you know that most female Narwhal don't have a horn...But why?
Did you know that the Boxer Crab who has no teeth, jaws or large claws literally uses an anemone attached to its body to fight off predators?
Did you know that there is only one mammal that has armor-like scales?
Did you know that there is a fish with hair that can walk? Perhaps we can explain the dinosaurs after all?
This and many more cool facts are brought to light by Marilyn Singer and beautifully illustrated Paul Daviz. A fun dive into the Animal Kingdom!
What makes these creatures stand out as weird?
Did you know that most female Narwhal don't have a horn...But why?
Did you know that the Boxer Crab who has no teeth, jaws or large claws literally uses an anemone attached to its body to fight off predators?
Did you know that there is only one mammal that has armor-like scales?
Did you know that there is a fish with hair that can walk? Perhaps we can explain the dinosaurs after all?
This and many more cool facts are brought to light by Marilyn Singer and beautifully illustrated Paul Daviz. A fun dive into the Animal Kingdom!
February 7, 2019
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was extremely fun! It is entertaining, witty, presents an animal in a few paragraphs, but it makes you curious and the illustrations are a lot of fun - but of course I googled pictures of the real animal. But I agree with not using real photos in this book because the illustrator did a great job and this curiosity and wanting to see these incredible creatures in real life only helps the reader learn more about the animals!
Great read!
This was extremely fun! It is entertaining, witty, presents an animal in a few paragraphs, but it makes you curious and the illustrations are a lot of fun - but of course I googled pictures of the real animal. But I agree with not using real photos in this book because the illustrator did a great job and this curiosity and wanting to see these incredible creatures in real life only helps the reader learn more about the animals!
Great read!
December 13, 2018
Good addition to libraries and classroom book collections on animals! Kids are going to be amazed by the strange and unique animals in this book. Hoatzin, a bird which has claws when its young for climbing and can swim underwater?! A relatively new discovery, the Dumbo Octopus will delight them. So many unusual animals to read about in this book. I loved the illustrations of the creatures, it would have been nice to see photos, but anyone can find photos and more info online. Great read!
March 28, 2020
3/25/2020 ~ Sadly, the book didn't live up to the cover and title. I found there to be too much text and not enough headers, captions, etc. Also, the readers in my elementary library really prefer photos or photo-like illustrations. I did however, really enjoy the allusions to superheros, such as the reference to Wolverine on the page about the hairy frog.
Not right for my collection at this time.
Not right for my collection at this time.
January 23, 2019
Who are you Calling Weird by Marilyn Singer is an examination of unusual if not "weird" animals. Each animal's spread includes information about them including bright and colorful, eye-catching art. The need for more animal books and books that focus on lesser-known animals is great at my public library and this attractive collection of animals (including the super-popular Aye-Aye and Narwhal) will be in demand. One criticism, the maturity level of the illustrations reads young but the text is a little more advanced. A bigger font would match the illustrations better.
December 11, 2018
This delightful nonfiction book is factual, without being boring. The illustrations that accompany the text are perfect--whimsical and fun. Some of these creatures were completely new to me, and others I was familiar with. But each of them were interesting to read about. I especially like how the last "creature" featured in the book is "human". This book would make a nice edition to an elementary classroom.
January 13, 2019
What a beautiful and interesting little book about some unique inhabitants of this wild world we call home! I read this with my capricious 8 year old and she LOVED it! It features animals from all over the globe with vastly different phenotypic and behavioral adaptations that help them live (and thrive) in their particular piece of the planet. The illustrations are gorgeous though the artistry is not only with the graphics but with the plethora of accompanying information about each creature as well. Together they form a one-two punch that was an instant hit in our house! Some of the descriptions are a bit long winded, especially for younger readers, BUT if you have a Little that has a voracious appetite for knowledge (especially for all things zoological and unique) then this book is a wonderful addition to any budding bibliophile's library. My daughter enjoyed making a game out of guessing the animals' identity based on the least amount of description as possible. I truly believe that you too will enjoy learning all about how wonderous, and super powered, these animals are. Who are those furless, bipedal, mammals making all that racket? Why, it's us. We Humans happen to make it onto the strikingly vivid illustrated pages along with some lesser known creatures. I won't ruin which others appear within, you'll just have to check out the book to find out but I highly reccomend you do so.
*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***
January 13, 2019
A look at 21 weird animals, with one spread per animal containing information about their habitats, unique characteristics, diet, and life expectancy, as well as an illustration of them.
I was totally expecting this to be a book of poetry about these animals since that is Singer’s most common genre, but this is just normal prose. It’s very readable, and she did a good job of writing the information in such a way that one animal flows to the next animal. The creatures chosen range from weird but popular (naked mole rats and sloths) to quite obscure (Pacific barreleye and Mwanza flat-headed agawa). There’s a good variety of creatures and global locations where they are found. The book ends with an encouragement to do what we humans can to conserve and preserve. If this book had come out a few years ago it would have been more novel than it is now. Weird animals has been a popular topic of late and this joins a host of similar books. Not that it is bad that it has been published. No, it does include some unique animals and even some of the information on more commonly talked about animals was new to me. It’s just I’m afraid it won’t get as much recognition because there are several similar books out there. Recommended for animal lovers and elementary kids seeking out info on more obscure animals.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was totally expecting this to be a book of poetry about these animals since that is Singer’s most common genre, but this is just normal prose. It’s very readable, and she did a good job of writing the information in such a way that one animal flows to the next animal. The creatures chosen range from weird but popular (naked mole rats and sloths) to quite obscure (Pacific barreleye and Mwanza flat-headed agawa). There’s a good variety of creatures and global locations where they are found. The book ends with an encouragement to do what we humans can to conserve and preserve. If this book had come out a few years ago it would have been more novel than it is now. Weird animals has been a popular topic of late and this joins a host of similar books. Not that it is bad that it has been published. No, it does include some unique animals and even some of the information on more commonly talked about animals was new to me. It’s just I’m afraid it won’t get as much recognition because there are several similar books out there. Recommended for animal lovers and elementary kids seeking out info on more obscure animals.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2019
I received this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. This book is an excellent j nonfiction book for kids who are curious about animals and love weird animal facts. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the information is minimal so that readers won't lose interest.
January 19, 2019
I love the illustrations in this book, and it's always fun to read and learn more about the "weirder" animals! I think many students will enjoy reading this and can't wait to add it to my library!
January 10, 2019
This is a very good look at the extremes that evolution has taken certain animals to. You get head-butting birds, stinky birds, hairy fish, hairy frogs and dragons, and even the adult reader will probably come across something they've never heard of. Because there are only three or four paragraphs for each creature on their own double-page spread you don't really get a full sense of the biology that leads to such specialisation, but you certainly can learn what each unique attribute does for each animal. My only problem with the book is the artwork. It being in such a rarefied, colourful and cartoonish style doesn't make any of the animals attractive, which kind of defeats the issue. Much more realism was called for, in my mind. Still, the script is fine, guiding us gently (and with suitable child-friendly comparisons, such as a superhero shtick) around the world's peculiar lifeforms. Clever closing touch, too.
Three and a half stars – it would be higher but for the visuals.
Three and a half stars – it would be higher but for the visuals.
June 9, 2019
A very cute book about some of the strangest (or unique, I should say) creatures living on our planet earth. Colorful and adorable illustrations are realistic enough to recognize the animals' true forms. The information about the animals only point out their most distinctive features (i.e. appearance, adaptions to the environment, or their habits) which is not sufficient or conclusive enough for some readers. But for the purpose of reading about unique animals, this is definitely a fun book to pick up for readers of all age. The author added how human, being unique and intelligent, could help to preserve these animals and their habitats. Educational, entertaining, and interesting, I truly enjoyed reading "Who Are You Calling Weird."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews