Flamingos Are Pretty Funky: A (Not So) Serious Guide

PreS-Gr 3–Funky is the word for this humorous guide to flamingos of all sorts. Facts and descriptions appear in the body of the text while the birds (and a snake) in the illustrations make humorous remarks in speech bubbles. For instance, when the various species are introduced, the Lesser Flamingo opines, “I think we can come up with a better name.” And when the text explains that flamingos can live in locations with corrosive chemicals in the water, one of the birds asks, “Beautiful view, toxic water, all the algae you can eat...what more could you ask for?” A map showing locations for each species, a spread with all six birds side by side for easy comparison of size, and diagrams showing the “unique beaks” and surprising structure of flamingo legs offer additional details. Their snaky friend looks at the beak diagram and quips, “Wow! You really know how to turn that frown upside down!” Side bars offer information on the carotenoids that give flamingos their color and on the growth of flamingo chicks. Back matter offers a photo of each species, along with their common and scientific names, height, weight, and conservation status. A glossary and suggestions for further reading are also included.