Who Has These Feet?

Publishers Weekly

This guess-the-animal book asks readers to identify species by looking at their feet. Hulbert describes how each animal’s treads are acclimated to its particular environment: a tree frog’s toes are sticky; a squirrel uses the claws on its toes to scamper along trees; and a sea turtle has flippers for swimming. A gatefold features all of the animals together—“Who has these feet? We have these feet!” Brooks’s naturalistic yet affable animals will likely inspire readers to take a closer look at their own feet. Ages 3–7. (Aug.)

Children's Literature - Joyce Rice

Any adult who has ever walked down the beach with a young child will understand the attraction of this book to young readers. Children are fascinated with what is left behind, whether it is a footprint by a skinny legged water bird, the seaweed that washes up on the beach, or even the empty cup left by a forgetful adult. A child will stop at each thing and examine it as though it has become the most important thing in their universe. Adults, even teenagers, will shuffle by and perhaps not even see it, but a child sees. Everything has value if only for curiosity in a child's world. Therefore, a book about feet holds great adventure for the young reader. Each two-page spread introduces a pair of feet and asks the question, "Who has these feet?" The reader is invited to speculate, imagine and question the possibilities before turning the page to find out the answer on the next two-page spread. The rich, dark illustrations of an underground ant-nest and a squirrel scampering up a tree add depth to the brief verse on each page. The last few pages of the text offer a gatefold of the animals and their feet, offering readers a matching game that opens up to reveal the animals that they have read about. This is a very well done introduction to animals for the young reader. Reviewer: Joyce Rice

School Library Journal

K-Gr 1—Nine animals present their tootsies for detailed examination in this attractive, informational picture book. After repeating the title question, Hulbert provides one succinct explanatory sentence for each animal on the reason why its foot is shaped as it is: "A squirrel has claws on its toes so it can run up and down trees." Children who are just beginning to read will find the bold font a decent size and easy to manage. The final gatefold opens out from both right and left to create a four-page spread showing all of the animals in a review lineup rendered in watercolors. While older collections may have Peter Parnall's Feet! (Macmillan, 1988), with descriptions of animal feet by size, speed, and other attributes, or various new titles on shoes for every occasion and occupation such as Stephen R.Swinburne's Whose Shoes?: A Shoe for Every Job (Boyds Mills, 2010), this title earns its own place on current picture-book shelves.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Kirkus Reviews

Who has these feet and what do they do?

Close-up illustrations of animal feet are paired with the title question, "Who has these feet?" A page turn reveals the entire animal in its natural habitat. Many young readers will gleefully guess or know the answer already, but there are some tricky ones, making the format an especially useful one for preschoolers and early-elementary children. Readers learn not only to whom the feet belong but how the various feet help the animal survive in its environment. A duck's webbed feet serve it well underwater, helping it swim fast, while a tree frog's sticky toes prevent it from falling off rain forest leaves. From the snowy Arctic to the desolate desert, these animals and their funky feet come from all corners of the Earth, giving readers beginning lessons in zoology, ecology and geography (though it's too bad there's no map to extend the learning). The text and concept are refreshingly simple, while still educating and entertaining. The richly colored and realistic watercolor illustrations depict child-friendly beasts without anthropomorphizing them. A gatefold at the conclusion brings all the animals together, and a checkerboard of heads and feet on its flaps is a ready-made matching game.

Young animal fans will find much to enjoy and are sure to ask for multiple readings.(Informational picture book. 3-7)