What's Looking At You, Kid? (Hardcover)

From acclaimed U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis comes a delightful exploration of the wildlife easily found in our backyards and along the seashore. Simple rhymes and riddles are used to help the youngest of readers identify our wildlife neighbors, including birds, small mammals, and insects.

Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Shortlist, Short-listed, 2013

USA Best Books Award--Children's Picture Book Finalist, Runner-up, 2012

2012 USA Best Book Award Finalist - Children's Picture Book - Hardcover Fiction, Short-listed, 2012

Booklist

Lewis, the current Children’s Poet Laureate, offers rhymes as riddles. Examples include “Hanging in the air’s the thing / he can do without a wing / Look, a yo-yo on a string! Whee!” and “Look who’s into something sweet. / She must live on Honey Street. / She’s got honey on her feet!” Each answer names an animal, and, in these examples, the first is a spider, and the second a bee. Although the full pollen baskets on the bee’s legs are a bit distracting, as they’re unexplained and unrelated to the riddle, the paintings are usually uncomplicated, helpful, and pleasing. Many of the riddles would be difficult to solve without a hint, but the illustrations make the answers obvious. When sharing the book with groups of children, readers may want to pause after reading each rhyme, before showing the picture. Apart from the title, which winks at adults, this playful picture book invites involvement and response from young children.