Mud to the Rescue! How Animals use Mud to Thrive and Survive

Konerman’s illustrated children’s book details the ways in which mud can be helpful in the daily lives of animals all over the world.

In these colorful pages, the author discusses the benefits of having plenty of mud around when you’re a member of the animal kingdom. Several types of birds need mud in their everyday lives to help keep their nests sturdy and safe from predators. Macaws eat mud to calm their stomachs and counter poisons—they’re just one of over 200 species that have been documented engaging in geophagia, or eating mud. Turtles all over the globe use mud to protect themselves from inclement weather, whether it’s too hot or too cold. Both elephants and hippos roll in mud to cool themselves off and protect their skin (“A nice layer of mud blocks pests and parasites that itch or make elephants and hippos sick”). The text’s layout pairs prey animals with natural predators that use mud in the same way; readers learn that alligators use mud to protect their eggs, just like the flamingos they hunt. At the back of the book, each of the animals mentioned in the main text receive a dedicated paragraph containing more detailed information. The book also includes a glossary, author’s note, and labeled examples of various species’ footprints. Konerman uses repetitive text to introduce problems that animals encounter for which mud is the solution. (The seminarrative text is lyrical but contains no fictional elements.) On some pages, there are additional, mud splattered text boxes providing more fun facts about the animals (“Duck-billed platypus has a rubbery snout that can sense its prey’s tiny electrical currents in the mud”). Cataldo depicts animals in their environments in realistic illustrations, including details to help readers develop a deeper understanding of the material.

An engaging resource for young nature enthusiasts.