Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs by Melissa Stewart - ADVISABLE

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Peachtree, 2018. $17. 9781561459360

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

There are a lot of animals that are easy to love, but this book draws attention to the animals that don’t usually get the love. For some of the animals, like the pygmy shrew, the author groups them with other animals and, in this case, explains the advantages of being small. For other animals, like the Galapagos tortoise, the author goes into more details about their perceived disadvantages and why those are often times strengths. 

I am a sucker for an informational text that also has a life lesson applicable to readers. This book ends with the following thought to consider: “What seems like a weakness could actually be a strength.” I love that. The illustrations don’t stand out, they are a hybrid of text book meets picture book. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher