The Little Crooked Bookshelf on ReviewsDay!

TERRIFIC TONGUES!
by Maria Gianferrari
illustrated by Jia Liu

(This week's #ReviewsDay pick is from cottager Anika Denise.)

What it's all about...
A nonfiction ode to tongues! From woodpeckers to frogs to bats — who knew animal tongues could be so much fun? Readers can imagine what it would be like to have a tongue like a sword, a straw, and party blower, among other cool comparisons.

Why I love it...
Because it's packed full of great info but is not bogged down by its facts. Terrific Tongues moves along lickety-split! It's funny, interesting, and the illustrations are marvelous.

Favorite lines...
If you had a 
tongue like a washcloth.
you might be an. . .

OKAPI!

An okapi's tongue is like a 
washcloth. Okapi tongues 
are so long that okapis can use them to 
wash their eyes and ears.

A few of my fave illustrations...

What's the kid-appeal?
Little kids love learning weird and interesting facts. Facts about tongues? Fascinating! In an easy-to-digest, playfully-illustrated format, readers can discover all sorts of tasty tongue tidbits such as: a giant anteater flicks its tongue 160 times a minute.

What's the grownup appeal?
It works beautifully as a read-aloud, and it's also a great choice for kids who like their STEM lessons served up silly.

Where to find/ buy Terrific Tongues
Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Or at a school or library near you!

MARIA GIANFERRARI is the author of both fiction and nonfiction picture books, including the Penny and Jelly books, Coyote Moon, and Hello Goodbye Dog. She lives in Virginia. Visit mariagianferrari.com.

JIA LIU received her MFA in Illustration Practice from Maryland Institute College of Art. Terrific Tongues! is her debut picture book. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Visit jia-liu-t7ay.squarespace.com.