Find out about animal tools by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Jane McGuinness

 I don't do storytimes much anymore; my school colleague does our regular weekly storytimes for families and my associate fills in as needed and does our 4K outreach storytimes. I spend more time selecting and sourcing materials for said storytimes (among other stuff). When I did more storytimes, I always made it a point to try to include nonfiction, but I've found myself getting away from that in past years. It's just easier to grab a couple funny books when I'm only reading once a month to 1st graders or to get more traditional storytime picks for various themes. We're also moving away from traditional programs in general, as our attendance (although not our circulation) has been waning for many years.

However, this book revived my interest in nonfiction-themed storytimes and I can think of so many ways to use it! It's officially part of the "Find Out About" series, but more generally is part of what I think of as a series from Candlewick that features picture books with bold, simple sentences for reading out loud, slightly longer paragraphs that add more information, and a simple index and back matter.

This book focuses on animal tools and shows a wide variety of animals using simple tools from a crocodile balancing sticks on her nose to lure in birds to otters cracking open food with stones. McGuinness' sweet illustrations show cute animals (yes, even the crocodile is cute) moving about pastel-colored landscapes in a natural, but not hyper-realistic, way.

The general format of the books is made for storytimes with a wide variety of ages. Younger kids can focus on the short, bold sentences while older listeners will have the patience for the longer paragraphs. The simple sentences paired with the pictures offer easy starting points for discussion and engagement with a variety of ages. The book is also a great starting point for hands-on activities, both for sensory and motor development. You could set up stations allowing the kids to test out the different animal tools, like making their own crow-style hook or decorating a bower, or offer a challenge to create their own tools for picking up, pinching, and moving items.

Verdict: A strong addition to any collection and a great starting point for introducing more nonfiction into your storytimes. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781536234046; Reinforced/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $14.39

Published July 2024 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library