From popping off a tail to rolling around in dung to farting to send a message, this funny and informative nonfiction picture book shows the many unusual ways animals adapt to their surroundings! Animals survive and thrive in astounding ways: they trick, trap, and fry predators; feed on other animals’ poop and skin; and use electric zaps, slime, and other unexpected methods to communicate. Featuring animals like Komodo dragons, bombardier beetles, and capuchin monkeys, this fact-filled book explores the surprising, exciting, and sometimes hilarious ways that animals adapt. Welcome to the wonderful world of animal slime, poop, gas, vomit, and gross parenting practices. Setting out with the worthy purpose of wowing and disgusting young readers, Settel dishes up 18 cases of nature at its nastiest—from slimy slugs and nose-picking capuchin monkeys to Komodo dragons, which swing the intestines of their victims around to clear out the poop before chowing down. Along the way, she shows a knack for slipping in facts as likely to intrigue as revolt, such as the many useful purposes mucus serves in our own bodies, how herring use "fart pops" (up to 40 a second) to communicate, and why giraffe tongues are blue. And while scenes of tiny mites crawling into a hummingbird's nose or a Darwin's frog dad spitting out the younglings he's been storing in his mouth may cause a bit of churn in more sensitive stomachs, in general Donovan tones down the gross in her brightly hued animal portraits enough to elicit more cooing than spewing. A long glossary at the end expands on the physical, chemical, and biological processes mentioned in the narrative in unusual detail. Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024 Get ready to dive into the "sticky, stinky, and slimy" world of animal adaptations. This fascinating book is packed with intriguing facts about the weird and wonderful ways animals survive and thrive. This book showcases the incredible diversity of animal tricks and traps, from the titular fish farts to a Komodo dragon covering itself in poop. Settel's engaging writing makes complex concepts accessible and entertaining, while Donovan's vibrant digital illustrations bring the gross and amazing facts to life. What sets this volume apart is its ability to balance humor with education, making it an absolute delight for readers of all ages. Whether you're a curious kid or a trivia enthusiast, this book is perfect for anyone looking to impress their friends with random facts or expand their animal knowledge. VERDICT With its unique blend of science, humor, and visual appeal, this is a must-read for anyone curious about the natural world. Jessica Clark , School Library Journal October 2024. "Settel’s engaging writing makes complex concepts accessible and entertaining, while Donovan’s vibrant digital illustrations bring the gross and amazing facts to life. . . . With its unique blend of science, humor, and visual appeal, this is a must-read for anyone curious about the natural world." -- School Library Journal ― 10/4/24 "Welcome to the wonderful world of animal slime, poop, gas, vomit, and gross parenting practices. . . . [Settel] shows a knack for slipping in facts as likely to intrigue as revolt . . . . Donovan tones down the gross in her brightly hued animal portraits enough to elicit more cooing than spewing. . . . A crowd-pleasing way to deliver some substantial (info) dumps." -- Kirkus Reviews ― 5/1/24 "Donovan's digital art is brightly colored and does a good job depicting important points from the text, such as a giraffe's blue tongue (which acts as a sunscreen) wrapped around a branch. The gross-out factor is prominent throughout. . . . Appended with a glossary, this should intrigue borrowers and lead to further investigation." -- Booklist ― 5/15/24 Dr. Joanne Settel is an award-winning writer of science books for children, including Your Amazing Skin from Outside In and Your Amazing Digestion from Mouth Through Intestine . Dr. Settel’s book Exploding Ants: Amazing Facts About How Animals Adapt was listed as one of the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 by the Children’s Book Council. Dr. Settel has a PhD in biology. She is a professor emeritus at Baltimore City Community College, where she taught courses in biology, anatomy, and physiology. She lives with her husband in Maryland, where she enjoys hiking, playing bridge, and gardening. Visit her online at JoanneSettel.com. Natasha Donovan is a Métis illustrator with a focus on comics and children’s illustration. She has illustrated several award-winning children’s books including The Sockeye Mother by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson) and the graphic novel Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett. She has a degree in anthropology from the University of British Columbia and has worked in academic and magazine publishing. She currently lives in Bellingham, Washington. Visit her at NatashaDonovan.com.