A finely crafted, brief rhyming text notes many instances of stripes in the animal world. The repeated use of the same alliterated sound in pairs of phrases ("Prowling the prairie / perched on a peak") that are part of a longer couplet ("Crawling on cactus / and camped by a creek") is marvelous, as is the rich word choice. A wonderful text for reading aloud or for advanced beginning readers, the narrative is paired with the striking illustrations showing the array of striped creatures referenced. More about the purpose of the stripes on each animal is provided in brief information at book's end. A final page spread invites children to identify each of the animals by a close-up image of just its stripes. Highly Commended, 2014 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 3-6)

A patterned parade of animals comes to life!

What kinds of animals have stripes and why do they have them?
 
With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author-illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces readers to a range of striped animals, familiar and exotic, and some of the benefits of their patterns. In addition to providing beauty and inspiration, stripes can help a creature communicate with and recognize fellow members of its species, provide camouflage for hunting or hiding, or confuse or scare off predators. From the tiger to the Malaysia tapir, the ring-tailed lemur to the zebra, these stunning striped creatures will delight and fascinate budding naturalists.
 
This entrancing companion to Spectacular Spots features energetic rhyming text and beautifully detailed paintings that pop off the page. An afterword tells a little bit more about each animal and where it lives, and readers can test their knowledge of animal stripes with a fun matching game at the end.