Flamingos Are Pretty Funky: A (Not So) Serious Guide
by Abi Cushman; illus. by the author
Primary    Greenwillow    40 pp.
6/24    9780063234444    $19.99

Cushman, with a little help from the chatty green snake introduced in Wombats Are Pretty Weird (rev. 7/23), once again treats young readers to the wonders of the animal world. This time the discussion is about flamingo features, such as their habitats, coloration, nests, and skeletons. Cushman’s conversational, often jokey tone and direct address invite reader engagement. The initial pink double-page spread directs youngsters to “back up a little.” Turn the page, and they encounter two pink joints (later identified as ankles, not knees), with further directions to back up a little more. Turn the page and “behold the flamingo.” A particularly helpful map pinpoints habitats of the six flamingo species, with the following spread introducing each. Further explanations include why they are pink (the carotenoids they eat) and how and why that color intensifies. Other information includes why they stand on one leg; what protects them from toxic water; and how they eat, a process shown through a clear, uncomplicated diagram. The digital illustrations with a sunny palette humorously amplify the text through both facial expressions and exaggerated antics such as attracting a mate. Back matter consists of scientific information (such as size, weight, and conservation status), a glossary, and suggestions for further reading.

From the ">September/October 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.