Think Like a Goat: The Wildly Smart Ways Animals Communicate, Cooperate and Innovate. Written by Lisa Deresti Betik and illustrated by Alexander Mostov. Kids Can Press. 2023. $23.99 ages 9 and up

"Male bowerbirds are not born with all
of the skills needed to impress a female -
they have to develop them. Young males
spend a lot of time watching older ones
build bowers. They also role-play while
visiting older males' bowers. These actions
are good for both birds: the young male 
gets to observe how the older one sings 
and dances, and the older male gets a 
chance to practice."

Divided into five chapters, and including an introduction about different types of intelligence and a glossary, a list of resources and an index, this book uses a conversational tone to interest readers in the many ways that animals apply their skills to use signals to share information, to work together and learn from each other, to solve problems, and to express emotions in countless ways. It is a lesson to those who think only humans are intelligent beings. In fact, readers will be surprised to find that animals display many 'smarts' themselves. 

There is much to learn here. The book's pages are filled with factual information meant to educate and amaze. It's another of those books that allows kids to pass along much of what they are learning to family and friends: vampire bats share the blood they drink with other hungry bats; two ravens will pull on the ends of a rope at the same time to reach two pieces of cheese, especially if they are a relative or friend; scrub jays remember where they've hidden food caches and what food is there; and an octopus can camouflage itself as a rock, plant or other sea creature. Impressive, indeed. 

Each entry is presented to hold interest without being too wordy. Digital illustrations add context and humor for the target audience. There is much we can learn from and about animals by reading this excellent example of nonfiction. 

Here's more to know about the octopus: 

"They recognize and react differently 
to individual humans. 

They create mental maps and can 
remember information about places 
they've been. 

They're difficult to keep in aquariums 
because they take things apart! 

They can open jar lids to get crabs out."