Just You and Me: Remarkable Relationships in the Wild

PreS-Gr 2--All around the world, animals on land, sea, and everywhere in-between have developed symbiotic relationships that enhance their quality of life and their ultimate survival. On the savannah, oxpeckers perch on the backs of rhinoceroses, cleaning them by eating the ticks that would otherwise reside there. Beneath the sea, goby fish alert their pistol shrimp companions to impending danger. In the forest, green algae clings to the slow-moving sloth to provide camouflage and protection from predators below. This rhyming picture book introduces young readers to the many and often surprising ways animals have learned to coexist. Using rhyming couplets that are almost entirely balanced in meter, the narrative is accessible to children, especially in a read-aloud setting. While the rhyming text incorporates facts, there is a second paragraph included on every page that goes into more detail about the featured animals. This design allows readers to experience the book either as a narrative on its own or in more detail depending on the audience. Digitally rendered illustrations showcase the habitats of the many animals in the book through color, clean lines, and geometric shapes. These detailed images connect readers to the natural world in a playful and engaging way. Though there is an absence of traditional nonfiction back matter, a list of sources is included to provide context for the information within the book. VERDICT This accessible story is an enjoyable means of introducing young children to both conservation and creature interactions within the global community.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.