One of two titles launching the Ask Dr. K. Fisher series—the other is About Dinosaurs
—this informative book takes the form of spirited missives between concerned animals and a well-informed avian doctor (a business card held in an envelope on the back of the front cover promises, “Any problem solved!”). Llewellyn adeptly riffs on some recognizably human concerns: in a letter signed “Panic-stricken in the pond,” a tadpole writes, “My body is changing in alarming ways. My head’s bulging, my tail’s disappearing and things are beginning to sprout on my body. What is happening to me?” (The doctor’s reply begins with the familiar reassurance, “Don’t worry—you are perfectly normal.”) Some of the stronger letters come from an overprotective crocodile mother and a giraffe ashamed of its long neck (“Why am I so tall, and is there anything I can do to be more like the others?”) Rounding out the guide are Dr. Fisher’s notes on subjects that include life cycles, feeding and warning colors. Sheppard’s illustrations feature an expressive cast of creatures in a collage-like assemblage of Polaroid-style photos, dog-eared letters, envelopes and more. A winning mix of genuinely funny writing and informative content make these titles stand out from the herd. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
