Does a Seal Smile?

Children's Literature - Kimberly O'Meara

Animals often communicate their needs or greetings by using body language and/or vocalizations. People, especially young children, do the same. Written for the three- to six-year-old age range, this "Early Experience" book depicts typical situations in which animals and people seek to express themselves. Young listeners may find the text reassuring after hearing the different ways that children respond to people they know and others they do not know. Children are oftentimes intrigued by their younger siblings and the means by which they communicate. The book capitalizes on this interest and although a bit too lengthy at times, gives the listener information progressing from a generalization of animals to young children and adults. The inclusion of people from other regions of the world may be too much for an age range that is still primarily focused on him or her self. The illustrations offer simple yet nearly realistic portraits of the animals and people included in the body of the text. Used as an extension in a thematic unit, this book offers listeners an opportunity to explore how people greet one another and communicate their feelings in everyday life.

Kirkus Reviews

Does a seal smile? How about a mandrill, a coyote and a chimpanzee? In a question-and-answer format, Ehrlich asks readers whether these animals smile (they don't) and shows how they recognize and greet each other through body language, facial expressions and sound. He then moves on to people; beginning with babies, he introduces the basics of human communication. Last, he provides examples of how people from different cultures greet one another. Bolam's appealing and wry illustrations will charm; however, there is a lot of information here. While the text is straightforward, the human-animal parallels and some of the vocabulary may not be entirely clear to the youngest children and will likely require explanation. With some help, though, children will come to appreciate the differences and similarities between human and animal behavior and understand the basics of how members of different cultures greet one another as well. (Picture book. 4-6)