Wild Style: Amazing Animal Adornments

by Jenna Grodzicki

Check out these cool critters and learn how their wacky adornments help them survive!

What do a crab waving pom-poms, a bug with a backpack of dead ants, and a mud-spattered vulture have in common? They all have wild style! Meet animals including crabs in sponge hats, caddisfly larvae wearing suits of armor, lacewing larvae dressing up with jewelry to hide themselves from ladybug predators in this fun and fascinating photo book!

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Jenna is the author of several fiction and nonfiction picture books for children. Some of her titles include Finn Finds a Friend (Clear Fork Publishing, 2017), I See Sea Food: Sea Creatures that Look Like Food (Millbrook Press, 2019), Harmony Humbolt: Perfect Pets Queen (Clear Fork Publishing, 2021), and Wild Style: Amazing Animal Adornments (Millbrook Press, 2020). She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two crazy awesome kids, a cat named Pixie, and dog named Ozzy. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Boston College and a Master’s in Education from the University of New England. She recently traded in her librarian hat to become a full time writer. At all hours of the day (and night) she can be found at her desk, drinking iced coffee and working on her next story.

Jenna is represented by Victoria Selvaggio of Storm Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so proud of this book. It may have been my favorite to research. Crabs who wear hats and wave pom-poms? Insect larvae that wear their own poop? I hope kids will enjoy reading about the wild style some animals have and why that style is necessary for their survival.

[Diana Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was FASCINATING! Really well-written and organized to make it easy for kids to understand. Huge, bright photos show close-up details. Lots of "gross-out" appeal (a bug that carries a bunch of glued-together ant corpses on its back?? Yikes!). Extra info about each animal at the back. This is definitely a winner. Would easily hold anyone's attention (kid or grown-up) and inspire a love of biology/science.

[Vivian Kirkfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh...I loved flipping through the pages of this book! Some of the 'animal adornments' are truly WILD! My 12-year-old grandson was fascinated...and his curiosity was sparked to learn more about some of these animals...and to discover MORE animals that have wild styles! And that's what we want books to accomplish...to spark a child's curiosity!
Mission accomplished with this fun-filled picture book! Well done!

[Melissa Stoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the WILD STYLE of this amazing animal book! One of my favorite animals featured is the pink flamingo, who spreads "makeup," really oil, all over its feathers to help them stay waterproof and strong. Grodzicki's animal choices and explanations provide a stunningly visual look at how these animals' styles help them survive and thrive in the wild. A perfect book for homes, classrooms, and libraries.

[Erin Dealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Amazing facts, explained in simple, fun ways, had me hooked on this nonfiction picture book, WILD STYLE, from the start. What bug carries a stack of dead ants in its back--and WHY? What makes flamingo feathers pinker--and waterproofed? Who catches a free ride on the back of a crab--and provides protection too? Young readers (and not-so-young readers) will be fascinated.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both engaging and informative. The well written text is paired with colorful photos. Every single fact is fascinating, as are the accompanying photos!!! This is such a clever premise is so well executed that kids will want to read and re-read!

[Lindsay Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun hook! Engaging photos and fact-filled text will keep curious kids engaged for repeated reads. They can flip to their favorite page or read front to back, with equally enjoyable experiences. Can't wait to share this with my elementary-aged son!

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, disgusting and amazing by turn, these animal adornments make reading non-fiction fun and inspire further exploration of our amazing animal planet!

[Tracy Hora · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I love how these crazy animals dress up...and have a reason for doing so! Some VERY interesting animals are included that I never knew about before reading this book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! A must read!

[Andria Rosenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will get a kick as they learn about these animals with fabulous, flashy style. They'll enjoy discovering the purpose behind the ornamentation of each interesting creature!

[Karen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Not only do you get facts about animals but the book has amazing photos! A must read for adults or children!!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Style: Amazing Animal Adornments by Jenna Grodzicki is currently scheduled for release on September 1 2020. What do a crab waving pom-poms, a bug with a backpack of dead ants, and a mud-spattered vulture have in common? Meet animals including crabs in sponge hats, caddisfly larvae wearing suits of armor, lacewing larvae dressing up with jewelry to hide themselves from ladybug predators in this fun and fascinating photo book!

Wild Style is a book that balances wonderful photography of animals showing off the ways they adorn their body for protection, comfort, hunting, and more. The pictures are bright and bold, and worth looking at all on their own. The text is well written, sharing interesting information in accessible terms and phrasing. I learned some things, and think that young readers (and their adults) will get a great deal from this read and want to revisit it on occasion.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Animals have many ways to protect themselves. Grodzicki shows elementary level readers some of the wilder methods used. The text clearly explains at a simple to follow level, and the photos are brightly colored and clearly show the protection/adornment methods each type of animal uses.
Great launching book for elementary students who want to learn about animal survival methods.

[Tina Cho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Style is a fun nonfiction picture book that even reluctant readers will want to get a hold of. The creative text and photographs showcase eleven fun creatures that use wild styles to either protect, feed, or fight. My favorites were learning about flamingos’ makeup and the pom-pom crab. Back matter has additional facts about each creature, a glossary, and for further reading.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a totally fun way to look at some of nature’s amazing creatures. This informational book is full of colorful, interesting photographs and engaging text that shares fascinating facts that kids will love!

[Vonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will love this book! Especially boys!! (You can’t go wrong when poop is involved). The books photographs are bright and interesting. The information is unique and unusual. It’s all about weird and whacky animal adornments used as camouflage. Did you know...

“The assassin bug sucks out the insides of an ant...
It lifts up the ant’s corpse and drops it on its back!
It glues the dead ant to the dozen other corpses
using a sticky substance that it makes itself.
Its backpack gets bigger with each meal...”

I didn’t even know there was a bug called an assassin bug! Have you heard of the Pom Pom crab? Me neither! Find out why they are the cheerleaders of the ocean when you read this book. You will love the interesting photo of their cheer “uniform”.

Kids and adults will be captivated and laugh at these crazy animals. Why does the golden tortoise beetle larva carry a stinky umbrella? And what is it made of? You’ll just have to read it to find out. This book is perfect for K-4th grade.

I received an ARC copy from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hook is how animals adjust their appearance or scent with other stuff, like how humans use style for fashion or to fit in. Animals are usually trying to avoid predators or find food or a mate with their decorations, and the crisp photographs call out how the animal has changed itself, then the facing text discusses the how and the why. It's a good first step to zoology -- animal behavior has a purpose, and people can figure out that purpose.

The back matter has a list of the animals with details (size, habitat, official name) and then suggestions for future reading and credits for the facts and pictures. It's a well written picture book that would hold animal lover's attention and maybe start helping them think about the how and why behind what they see.

The publisher provided me a copy of this book for review.

[Pippa Chorley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great visual feast. It is highly colourful, bold, textured and vibrant. I love the use of close up photography throughout and it has a captivating and fun vibe too. This non-fiction book would definitely be enjoyed by my 4-year-old and could easily stretch to an older readership too because the facts stated are both fascinating and not typically explored in other factual animal books. It has a unique feel to it and this unexplored topic makes it a definite crowd pleaser for schools and librarians alike. Each p[age of facts begins with a lively dose of onomatopeia too which adds humor to the book. The book also contains great back-matter with facts about each animal mentioned and a glossary.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy provided by NetGalley

Honestly, as a reader of books like Pink Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World's Perfectly Pink Animals, I knew what to expect with this one and I wasn't disappointed. While the two books are not identical by any means, the precept of the books were similar, and the delivery was similarly informative. It was a clever decision to make the book seem like a commentary on fashion. It's a new angle. This book is equal parts informative and quirky, which is always a pleasant mix.

[Cathy Ogren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about creatures found in nature that dress themselves up in unusual ways. Their style is definitely unconventional. Wild Style: Amazing Animal Adornments is filled with colorful photographs that beg to be carefully examined. These extraordinary creatures have adapted to their environment in exotic ways. There’s the assassin bug that protects itself with a pile of dead ants on its back. A carrier crab carries a sea urchin on its back to keep predators away. And readers will love learning about the golden tortoise beetle larva that covers itself with poop! Jenna Grodzicki cleverly introduces readers to a variety of animal adornments that are as fascinating as they are unusual.

[Matt Forrest Esenwine · Rating 4 out of 5]

From dapper sponge crabs to beetles with poop umbrellas...this book is sure to fascinate young readers, especially those who think they know everything about nature! Colorful photos attract the eye while easy-to-understand text surprises the reader with tales of squirrels wearing rattlesnake perfume, vultures painting themselves red, and the world's tiniest cheerleaders (not to give too much away, but they have more legs than the cheerleaders I went to school with). Be sure to pick this up for the nature fan in your family!

[April Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and interesting, and will entertain kids, often using the grosser aspects of nature, sometimes involving poop. Using the conceit of fashion, the reader learns about how animals use outside objects and/or excreted substances for camouflage, protection against the elements, to attract a mate, etc. The photographs are nice, and the information is educational without being dry, though it is a tad light. This book should generate enough interest in animals behaviors to inspire further learning, and it talks about poop, so you know kids will love it!

#WildStyle #NetGalley

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis would make a fun book of animal facts to add to a collection! I had no idea ground squirrels and their babies chewed up shed rattlesnake skins to rub allover themselves for protection! Or that assasinbugs carried multiple deads antas around on it back- kinda gross! Kids will enjoy the fun facts about critters in this book! Loved the photos; I bet they will look smashing in color!

I received a Kindle book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Julie Abery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Style by Jenna Grodzicki is chock full of interesting facts for the young animal lovers in your life. Such a fascinating selection of odd ball creatures and their and crazy animal adornments. An enjoyable read and wonderfully detailed photos to bring the creatures to life. Something for everyone to learn in this book. ‘Wild Facts’ and a glossary round it off nicely! Highly recommend.

[Susan Eaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with fascinating facts! The bright photographs & colorful graphics highlight each ingenious animal camouflage. The animal survival techniques are described with humor and just the right amount of weirdness to fascinate young readers and make them want more. Done! The author has packed the back matter with MORE info to satisfy curious minds.

[Tim McCanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprising array of interesting animals that use innovative techniques to thrive and survive! I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what the next "fashion" statement would be. We're in safe hands as Jenna Grodzicki leads the way. Lots of fun and lots to learn. Highly recommended.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright and colorful photography accompanies brief but informative text in this interesting nonfiction picture book.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sandra Sutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will love learning about these inventive creatures who make survival a stylish endeavor. A great book for young readers who love the natural world and fun details!