English / USA
Animals in pants
Levinson, Suzy
(text)
Howdeshell, Kristen
(illus.)
Howdeshell, Kevin
(illus.)
Petaluma, CA: Cameron Kids / Abrams, 2023. – [32] p.
ISBN 978-1-951836-62-7
Clothing | Picture book | Poetry | Animals
Reading age: 4+
White Ravens issue: 2024
Levinson’s delightful book of poetry describes a variety of animals in every type of pants one could imagine, from pantaloon-clad raccoons to manatees donning dungarees. Creative and comedic, each page features a rhyming poem about an animal whose hindquarters are covered in some manner of cloth or spandex. Block print and collage style illustrations enhance the text, bringing to life each anthropomorphized creature in their chosen bottom coverings. Some animals appear as though they are posing for a portrait, such as the cozy cat lounging in velour. Meanwhile, other animals are presented in action, such as the monkey swinging through the treetops in cargo pants – after all, »they need lots of pockets to hold their bananas.« The first endpaper introduces the book’s theme with a child asking »What? You’ve never seen an animal in pants?« while the final endpaper hints at a possible sequel – animals in hats, anyone? [MB]