MY PRESENTATION TODAY IS ABOUT THE ANACONDA

Hilarity ensues when animals give presentations about other animals in this translated Dutch import by two award-winning creators.

Upending the assumptions of readers who are used to seeing animals through a human lens, a variety of animals highlight other species in a version of class presentations. A cleaner fish speaks about sharks, in the process providing just as much information on the habits of cleaner fish themselves. A blackbird gives a presentation on the rose-ringed parakeet, before the verbose rose-ringed parakeet runs hilariously overtime in a talk about songbirds. The raucous speakers, who aren’t always identified, often interrupt one another with questions and comments, creating a Greek chorus effect. Tensions arise; the animals attempt to shut down the Gila monster out of fear of his “breath of death.” Cleverly, in defending himself, he manages to convey an abundance of information. The characters’ personalities sometimes emerge in ways that will disrupt readers’ expectations. The creatures represent a global mix—a southern cassowary from Australia presents on hummingbirds of the Americas. The sections are interconnected through satisfying allusions that help create anticipation. Humorous, charming, childlike illustrations of the animals match the off-kilter tone of the text. Rounding out this stellar package, the ending integrates the index—put together by an earthworm and a midwife toad—into the story, while seamlessly and amusingly introducing young readers to how an index functions.

A brilliant use of anthropomorphic animals, serving up facts and entertainment.