"Konerman’s educational picture book for young children explores the many surprising ways animals use mud to build their homes, find food, and protect themselves. Each scene highlights the importance of mud for creatures from diverse climates, such as a turtle that hibernates beneath layers of ice and otters that nest in temperate riverside burrows. The African elephant, meanwhile, easily overheats, while a hippo’s skin can crack if it gets too dry—both animals use mud as a kind of sunblock. The book also introduces more exotic species, such as the helmeted hornbill, which mixes mud with poop to build its nest and ward off predators. For each animal, Konerman includes intriguing facts that kids will enjoy sharing with family and friends—for instance, the American alligator can lay up to 70 eggs at a time, and pigs love wallowing in mud for up to three hours each morning. These tidbits will appeal to young readers, especially those who still delight in playing in mud themselves. The playful prose features alliteration and colorful descriptions, though occasionally the language doesn't flow as smoothly as it could, which can be a minor distraction. Still, the book makes a compelling case for the utility and value of 'slippy, sloppy, sludgy mud.' Melanie Cataldo’s detailed illustrations vividly demonstrate how each creature uses mud to its advantage. A painted turtle is shown snoozing underground while children in coats and hats play in the snow above; a duck-billed platypus splashes in a river as moonlight sparkles on the water. Flamingoes perch one-legged near their plateau-like nests, while Amazon fruit bats hang upside down in a moonlit tree with glowing branches. These pictures enrich the informative text, making for a fully immersive and engaging experience that will captivate young readers.“—Publishers Weekly
Konerman’s illustrated children’s book details the ways in which mud can be helpful in the daily lives of animals all over the world. In these colorful pages, the author discusses the benefits of having plenty of mud around when you’re a member of the animal kingdom. Several types of birds need mud in their everyday lives to help keep their nests sturdy and safe from predators. Macaws eat mud to calm their stomachs and counter poisons—they’re just one of over 200 species that have been documented engaging in geophagia, or eating mud. Turtles all over the globe use mud to protect themselves from inclement weather, whether it’s too hot or too cold. Both elephants and hippos roll in mud to cool themselves off and protect their skin (“A nice layer of mud blocks pests and parasites that itch or make elephants and hippos sick”). The text’s layout pairs prey animals with natural predators that use mud in the same way; readers learn that alligators use mud to protect their eggs, just like the flamingos they hunt. At the back of the book, each of the animals mentioned in the main text receive a dedicated paragraph containing more detailed information. The book also includes a glossary, author’s note, and labeled examples of various species’ footprints. Konerman uses repetitive text to introduce problems that animals encounter for which mud is the solution. (The seminarrative text is lyrical but contains no fictional elements.) On some pages, there are additional, mud splattered text boxes providing more fun facts about the animals (“Duck-billed platypus has a rubbery snout that can sense its prey’s tiny electrical currents in the mud”). Cataldo depicts animals in their environments in realistic illustrations, including details to help readers develop a deeper understanding of the material. An engaging resource for young nature enthusiasts."—Kirkus Reviews
“In the fully illustrated pages of ‘Mud to the Rescue!: How Animals Use Mud to Thrive and Survive’ young children will learn all about elephants, alligators, beavers, birds, pigs, and many more creatures as they find helpful (and sometimes unusual) uses for nature's squishy, squelchy soil...MUD! Illustrated throughout with the museum/art gallery quality artwork of Melanie Cataldo, the informative and fun descriptive commentary of Tanya Konerman, ‘Mud to the Rescue!: How Animals Use Mud to Thrive and Survive’ is a charming, informative, entertaining, and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Wildlife Picture Book collections for children ages 4-8.”—Midwest Book Review
"Squishy, marvelous mud is more than mud pie fun. Readers may already know that some animals (i.e. elephants, pigs, and hippopotamuses) need mud to protect their skin and themselves. Some birds use mud for their nests. Learn how mud helps other animals. Teachers may want to read this book aloud because Konerman (author) selects descriptive words that express how great the mud is for the animals. The illustrations (found throughout the book) support the text. There are insets with brief, additional information like mud keeping parasites away from the animal's skin or the length of time flamingos need to build their mud nests. Bold print words are in the glossary. At the end of the book, there is additional information about the animals that appear in the main body of the text. Readers, wishing to explore further, may find the list of resources (texts and websites) to be a helpful start. Children who love books about animals will probably enjoy this book. Teachers may find the author's note helpful for inspiring young writers."—Children's Literature
"'Drip! Drop! Splatter! Splash!' When the rain falls dirt turns into mud and all around the world many animals use mud to survive, protect, thrive, and defend. Elephants use mud to keep cool and to keep away biting bugs. Helmeted Hornbills use mud to keep their nests safe and secure. Platypus uses mud to find tasty treats. Flamingos use mud to protect their eggs. Bats use mud to add minerals to their diet. And people use mud for fun! A fun and colorful book about the many ways animals use mud in their daily lives. (Ages 4-8)"—KIDSbookshelf
