Butt or Face?

 

Title: Butt or Face

Author: Kari Lavelle
 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
 
Format: Book
 
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
 
Grade Level: PreK through 3rd Grade
 
Category: Informational
 
Butt or Face is a hilarious nonfiction guessing-game book that invites readers to answer the question: "Is it a butt or a face?" The book presents a close-up image of an animal (anterior or posterior) on the front of a page and asks the titular question. The answer, and many fun facts about the animal, is revealed when readers turn the page. I found this book when looking through Texas 2x2 List, and the title grabbed my attention. Who wouldn't want to read a book with such a silly, derriere-themed premise?

Mood. The book is funny and filled with body humor. This books does not fall into the pitfall some informational books do of talking down to kids. Rather, it presents its information in a fun way that readers will find engaging. Kids will find the butt jokes hilarious and be so caught up in the silliness that they don't even realize they are learning.

Design and Layout. The bright colors used in the backgrounds and fonts of this book give it a safari feeling to it. It feels like I'm pushing back foliage to get a look at the exotic animals in the illustrations. And it's a very clever design element to put the "butt or face?" question and accompanying photo on one side of a page so readers can make their guess before turning the page to find the answer. It really mimics a children's guessing game, but in book form. And the fun facts set off in bright popups are a great, eye-catching touch.
 
Illustrations. The illustrations are primarily photographs, sometimes with googly eyes overlaid on them. A close-up of an animal (too close to confidently identify it) is followed up by a full-body one so readers can see what the whole animal looks like. This may not seem very exciting, but for this kind of informational book, where readers are asked to identify an animal and its parts, it's appropriate. And the guessing-game aspect makes the photos engaging even if they are unexciting on their own. 

References:

Lavelle, K. (2023). Butt or face? (A. Nabi, Illus.) Sourcebooks Explore.


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