Beastly Puzzles, written by Rachel Poliquin and illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler. Kids Can Press, 2019. $18.99 ages 8 and up

"What animal could you
make with ...

A file
Silver thread
Four sewing pins
A thimble
One foot

Here's a hint: This animal
has no ears, so it can't hear
danger coming."

I can almost hear the wheels turning as you begin to 'puzzle' out this incomplete description. The rest of the hint says: 'But that's probably for the best - it couldn't outrun a predator anyway.'

Got any guesses? Do you want me to give you the answer? There will be kids (and adults) who don't want to know, who want to take time to try to figure out the answer given the clues provided. There are likely others who know the answer right away. They are much smarter than I am, that is for certain.

"It's a garden snail! 
[Cornu aspersum | spotted horn

It's their third shell, like a whorling of a goat's horn,
that gives them their name.

Four sewing pins: 
Snails have two pairs of tentacles. Their
larger pair have a black dot at the ends -
these are eyes. Snails feel and smell with
their lower, smaller tentacles."

I could go on; but I will not.

Ms. Poliquin opens with an informative introduction, reminding readers that animals are made up of  'various bits and pieces'. Some parts are similar, some very different, and many unique to only a few. She lets those who share this book know that each has adapted to the life they lead, and that all of  'its parts work together beautifully'. Finally, she promises that knowing such things will not make the task of using her clues to name the animal easy at all. Are you ready for the challenge, do you think?

The spreads open with a question about parts. She provides a list of those particular parts, and a hint about the animal being described. Open the gatefold, and voila - you have your answer. Each of the parts is then described in connection to the animal, with an additional information box providing further data. There are 12 animals, and much to learn about them.

The settings are detailed, done in a monochromatic tones, and add interest for the guessing game.
The final pages add a historical note about those who first discovered the new species and how they described them by comparing them to what was familiar. 

"The platypus, for example, was described as a cat-sized creature that laid eggs
like a chicken, blew bubbles like a turtle, swam like a fish and had a mole's fur,
a duck's beak and the feet of a goose."

You know the kids who will eat this up!