Thump Goes the Rabbit: How Animals Communicate

K-Gr 2–In this volume of the science series, children are introduced to a variety of animal communication techniques. Each spread depicts a species of animal demonstrating a single action, paired with a short, scientific explanation of what that action communicates. While the book’s tone is straightforward, its full-bleed illustrations are winsome and soft-edged, with many of the animals sporting gentle smiles. Back matter includes a brief glossary, a single-page guide to how words can translate to nonverbal communication, and an animal observation activity for young citizen scientists. Overall, it’s a chirpy and informative reading experience that holds varying appeals for various age groups. Very young children can appreciate the simple, easy-to-read sentences and endearing artwork, while curious older readers may be drawn to the science terms and concepts, including the suggested activity (which culminates in young scientists writing a list of their observations).