Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs

Written by Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

The theme of this cute new book is that even the non-elephants deserve our respect, if only for the ability to survive. That ability is a combination of camouflage, ability to hide, and other factors. Playful language make the concepts fun. Accurate and detailed illustrations make them easy to understand.

Etruscan pygmy shrews and Amau frogs are so small they escape predators by slipping into holes and cracks. Galapagos tortoises are incredibly slow but can hide inside their strong shells. The hoatzin, a bird, and the zorilla, a weasel relative, scare predators away with their awful smells. The okapi is known for its ability to hide in plain sight. Koalas, giant armadillos, and brown bats get an edge by sleeping a lot and not needing a lot of food. The western fence lizard is so fast, it can catch any number of spiders and insects. It can also lose its balance a lot. Walruses rely on their blubber to keep them warm and act as storage for lean times. Naked mole rats and perfectly adapted to their desert burrows.

More information about each animal is available in the final section. A fun way to learn about animals that may not be featured in your favorite movie.

  • PipsqueaksTitle: Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs
  • Author: Melissa Stewart
  • Illustrator: Stephanie Laberis
  • Published: Peachtree Publishers, September 1, 2018
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: 1 to 2
  • Genre: Nonfiction, Biology
  • ISBN: 978-1-56145-950-6
  • Extras: More about the Underdogs

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