Whose Bones Are Those?

by Chihiro Takeuchi

Inventive and stylish, informative and whimsical, this conceptual picture book from a noted cut-paper artist invites young readers to “guess the animal” by perusing its bones.

Whose bones? A scattering of tiny bones, spread across a vivid background, seem to offer no clues. But turn the page and the bones have elegantly come together, revealing the form of a snake or a lion, a crocodile or an elephant, a flamingo or even a whale. Every vibrant spread of this fascinating book features the skeleton—and also a stylized representation—of a different animal. Even the youngest of readers are invited to scrutinize the visual clues to figure out whose bones are portrayed in this fascinating introduction to vertebrates.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 5, 2022

About the author

Chihuro Takeuchi is a renowned cut-paper artist and the creator of several books. Colors is her third children’s book in English. She lives in Osaka, Japan.

Reviews

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this attractive picture book full of skeletons. While definitely not an easy guessing book, since the skeletons are deconstructed on the "Whose bones?" pages, I think a wide range of kids will enjoy seeing the animals' bones, skeletons, and then real-live animal with its flesh on. Fun for animal storytimes, halloween, you name it.

Themes: Animals, Bones, Inside/Outside, Halloween
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with a group that was a good mix of 0-5 year olds and their grown-ups. Some of the older kids were able to guess the animals from the mixed-up piles of bones, but to scaffold I showed them the page with the bones for each animal arranged in its skeleton form while hiding the picture of the animal itself on the facing page under a piece of cardstock. This made it a little more engaging for everyone to guess, and then I took away the cardstock and revealed the animal. It was so fun! Everyone was focused and interested!

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This informational picture book introduces the science concept of vertebrates in a fun and interactive way. When the query "whose bones?' is given, the reader must interpret the clues which include a visual prompt (snake has an egg) and the deconstructed skeleton. After exploring these illustrations, the child will turn the page for the answer. The two-page answer spread will have the completed skeleton and a live version of the animal. There are six animal spreads like this. The final spread sequence is a complex jumble of many animal skeletons, then the completed skeletons, and finally the live animals. A fun fact spread at the end gives a short paragraph on animals included in the book.

With sparse text and a repetitive format, this book encourages children repeat the reading to gain full knowledge of the subject. The cut paper illustrations are presented on fields of solid color making this both pleasing to the eye and engaging to look at over and over again. The text in the read aloud pages are comprised of only the question and the animal answer. So, reading to a group is possible in story time or classroom settings. Going over the fun facts together offer a great dialogue about what children already know about the animals and adding more information about the bones of that animal.

I would highly recommend this book for purchase by elementary school and public libraries.

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

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vertebrates are turned inside out, allowing readers to examine their skeletons, in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Each animal gets a spread of its deconstructed skeleton, with a visual clue such as the food it eats, and the repeated text “Whose bones?”, followed by side by side pictures of the skeleton reconstructed and the live animal. On display are a chameleon, a snake, a lion, a crocodile, an elephant, flamingos and a whale – all animals familiar and beloved of children. A short section shows a double page spread of bones of six animals, all mixed up in black and white, then a page of the completed skeletons, and finally their whole images with names. Simple facts about vertebrates are at the end, including some comparisons with humans. The front endpapers are a pattern of child skeletons with a funny creature at the end. The back endpapers show children, with diverse skin colors and attributes, and the funny creature is revealed to be a pink, three-eyed alien.

Wonderful cut paper art, simplified, colorful and striking, allows a reader to guess the animal. I like how easily identifiable each animal is. This is a lovely way for preschoolers to begin an understanding of what is inside bodies. The interactive element makes the book work for story time, classroom reading, or one on one enjoyment.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every other spread of this book asks "whose bones?" on the right side of the spread and portrays a scattering of bones on the left side of the thread. On the subsequent page spread the bones a re-assembled into their animal shape on the left and a flesh covered version of the animal appears on the right. It took me a minute to determine what was going on as each page containing the question "whose bones?" also includes illustrations of what the animal in question might eat or interact with. It is a fun concept that children obsessed with bones will enjoy but perhaps the fun facts contained in the end notes should have been integrated onto the question page.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully simple story structure with just the question Whose bones? on on double page spread, and then the next has the answer. There are clues in the illustrations through bone shapes (each includes a skull) plus an additional figure that helps the reader estimate the size of the creature. There are some great skeletons to explore - some in pieces and some are whole. The last double page includes some brief and unusual facts about each animal.

This is a book to tease curious minds and stimulate lots of discussion

[Wade Huggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whose Bones are Those is a nicely crafted book that serves as a great read aloud for first and second grade students. The students enjoy guessing which animals the bones belong to in the book. The book also includes some clues that help the students decide which animals bones you are looking at in the simple yet well done illustrations. The children also enjoy the Fun Facts at the back of the book. I use this book as a read aloud with guessing in the library.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each spread has a different vertebrate's bones with a small clue. I could only guess a couple of them, so I think it's pretty tricky. But, guessing games in books are a lot of fun for little ones, especially in a storytime. A book that talks about bones that's not just about dinosaurs--a win! I wish it was a little easier to figure out. The back matter is super interesting. I didn't know flamingoes stand on the tips of their toes.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple words: "Whose bones?" with a mess of unconnected bones. The next page will have the bones connected, and a picture of the creature with the answer. Even pre-readers and very early readers will get it. Adult co-readers can lead the children in looking at the bone clues to guess what animal they belong to. This would work for both preschool storytimes and early elementary programs. Despite the simplicity of the language, for toddlers it would work better as a one-on-one.

[Kelli Koeppen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping to have a book that would be a challenge, yet fun and frustration free for my kiddos at story time. I had a hard time figuring the animals associated with the bones that were selected.

The book, while not necessarily appropriate for a story time in my community is a fun and visually appealing book with bright colors. It is almost... too hard though, which is a shame. It had so much potential to be a fun participation book in story time.

[Cara Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had such potential, but I'm disappointed that the assembled skeletons were not on a page turn (reveal the whole animal on the next page) - it would work much better as a read aloud that way, so that kids could guess which animal they think the skeleton belongs to. Otherwise, I love the art and the concept - I would just recommend hiding each animal with a piece of paper!

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! Look at a pile of bones scattered across a page and guess what animal you think it is. This is way harder than it looks... then turn the page and you will see an assembled skeleton and a picture of the animal! There are a few hints along the way but this is challenging fun to see if you can pick out specific details that will lead you to a correct guess!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nonfiction "guess the animal" picture book that introduces little ones to animal bones. A variety of animal bones are shown totally deconstructed, then as a skeleton, and finally as a fully formed live animal. A useful book to include in preschool units about vertebrates. This will pair well with Marilee Robin Burton's Tail, Toes, Eyes, Ears, Nose.

[Kelly]

I couldn't guess any of the animals from the bones. The "hints" weren't helpful either, or were a stretch. Like you'd see the animal and be like ok, I guess. But some really made no sense to me. I thought it was a cute idea, but I wouldn't use this book in a storytime for guessing animals. Might work in a 3rd-4th grade class.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting that the illustrations are all cut paper. an art I admire and mor so when that are depicting the bones of vertebrate animals.And no I didn’t guess correctly all the animals but it was fun trying. Good title for the early grades as a different way to enhance visual discrimination.
I liked the inclusion of some facts about various animals and there bones.

[Emily Haage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Animal enthusiasts and kids who like guessing games will enjoy this one. I think the concept skews older than a story time crowd, though the illustrations seem better for preschool age. Overall, a fun concept

The "Fun Facts" at the end were also great and just enough of bite-size information for the intended audience. Did you know a snake has more bones than a human?!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can you guess the animal from the illustrations of its bones? This is a fun, colorful book that will engage kids who have questions about what's inside us. This would also make a not-too-spooky, educational read for the Halloween season.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how this book was laid out. I love the mix up of bones and the guessing game that it creates then followed by the answer.. simple enough for littles but complex enough for some critical thinking!

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of hints and clues to help kids identify whose bones they are seeing. Lots of opportunities to expand the reading experience to include colors, counting, creating sounds, and even moving around. Should be a big hit with the storytime crowd.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning about animals through matching and guessing with bright, bold, cut-paper illustrations.

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute non-fiction picture book about guessing what animals match the bones/skeletons on the pages.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot wait to share this with my 4 year olds!!

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun guessing game of a book

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun and informative and I can't wait to use it in storytime!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toddlers, preschool, and school-age

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun game with bones and animals. Though I will say trying to guess who the bones belonged to was quite difficult in some cases.

[Wendy Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun book, but it's too challenging for an adult librarian to guess, so most likely won't work for storytime.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Animal bones and facts are presented in this preschool guessing book.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worked best with ages 3-5. I wish that either the assembled skeleton and animal were separated by a page flip or I had brought a sheet of paper to cover it. Still a fun one.

[createitlibrarian (Amanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have liked the guessing to be easier for the age. Wasn't a fan of the scattered bone mess. But I'll still use this in storytime.