What a Shell Can Tell

Gr 3 Up--Scales encourages readers to unravel a shell's secrets through observation and reasoning from the first sentence of this book: "A shell has many secrets to tell." Through a series of questions and answers, readers learn that shells are home to mollusks, soft, boneless animals that grow tough outer shells for protection and live their lives inside the shell. Most mollusks are either gastropods, identified by their spiral shells, or bivalves, whose shells have two parts. A shell's shape, pattern, color, or texture may offer clues to its age, its habitat, and how it evolved to hide from predators. Bumpy pink cowrie shells blend in with their coral reef habitats. Scales is not afraid to get into the details with young readers, explaining that shells can also reveal what an animal ate (and in some cases, what ate them!) and how it moved around. She covers how sea butterflies and argonauts, octopuses that live in the open sea, have developed the ability to swim, and how shelled animals became part of the fossil record. The book ends on a hopeful note, mostly because of the resilience of mollusks themselves. Most of the colorful digital illustrations and clearly labeled diagrams add appeal and detail to this wide-ranging overview. VERDICT An engaging approach to this appealing topic, combined with colorful illustrations, should pique and hold the interests of inquisitive browsers and science-minded readers alike.--Marilyn Taniguchi

'Young shell-hunters of 6+ will adore this jewel-bright, fascinating work of nonfiction by a marine biologist and a seaside-dwelling artist.' - The Guardian

'Introduces the wonder of seashells.' - Publishers Weekly

'Brimming with fascinating facts ... students and adults will be amazed by all that we can glean by looking closely at shells.' - Youth Services Book Review

'Children and adults alike will be riveted by the sci-fi like, real-life animals that litter every beach.' - Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus

'The gorgeous illustrations will keep you going back. They feature vibrant colors, interesting shapes, and water that ripples off the page. What a Shell Can Tell is great to accompany on a trip to the beach, or to conjure up cool waves in your own home.' - Growing with Science, Roberta Gibson

'Inspires shell collectors and budding marine biologists alike to take better care of our oceans...environments and the shells living in them.' - Red Hook Star-Revue, Marie Hueston