Three pages of additional facts and a combined glossary/index round out a volume that’s sure to rise to the top. Conahan’s whimsical watercolor illustrations, complete with conversational bubbles, add humor and interest. Navy sonar”? That the water shrew can actually run across the surface of the water courtesy of the bubbles trapped between its hairy toes? Lively expository prose deftly combines straightforward facts (the scientific name of each animal), sound effects (the “fwap-fwap-fwap-fwap” of tree frogs creating foam) and kid-friendly comparisons (the gourami fish spitting eggs into its nest looks like it’s playing basketball). This shows that the frogs release various gases to save themselves and also to get rid of any disturbance in its digestive system. One interesting thing is that both the beetle and the frog remained unharmed. And after about 88 minutes later that toad vomited the beetle. Did you know that one species of spider creates a bubble home to live in underwater? That the popping bubbles of a napping shrimp can be “so loud it gets in the way of U.S. The frog soon started appearing a bit drunk with seizures and fever.

How do animals use bubbles? For sailing, running, berthing, nesting–even playing (dolphins seem to blow bubbles just for fun.) Sixteen double-page spreads cover 16 wholly different ways that fish, insects, amphibians and mammals use bubbles. Bayrock’s love of “way cool science” bubbles over in this surprisingly substantial book.

The amazing frog that farts