"But wait … the Blue-Footed Booby does
not have any boobies at all.
Birds are avian, not mammalian.
Mammals have mammary glands.
In other words, mammals have boobies."
Did you think that this book was going to teach readers about the blue-footed booby? That would not be a surprise; the bird is on the cover. Nancy Vo is quick to relate that her book is, in fact, a book about boobies. She makes sure to introduce one of the blue-footed kind. Then, she turns her story on its ear by asking a very pertinent question.
"Look!
Which of these animals have boobies?
A dog?
Yes.
A cat?
Yes.
A hamster?
Yes.
A fish?
No. Fish are not mammals."
The book goes on to discuss variety in boobies and totalk about their ability to feed their young. She also explains that all mammals have mammary glands. It educates young readers and will engage them in the conversation provided from page to page. Certainly, they will go home with more knowledge concerning breasts and their function, as well as their cultural associations.
Her approach to a subject that is often deemed taboo for shared talk is casual and educational, using stencilled artwork created with acrylics and pen. There is humor, and there are facts. It is scientific, and encourages young children to talk about body parts without any awkwardness. It might be the first book in a new series. The final spread offers a clue.
Eye-opening and valuable.
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