What If You Had Animal Hair? What If You Had Animal Teeth?

“What If You Had Animal Hair?” and What If You Had Animal Teeth,” both books by Sandra Markle with illustrations by Howard McWilliam, are incredible informational texts full of animal facts about teeth and hair for particular animals! The images in the book jump right off the page. With pictures of each animal right on the pages, this book can be considered both a fiction and nonfiction read informational text.

Both books come from a place of having children think about what it would be like to have certain types of animal teeth and hair, and, if that were so, what activities could the child participate in, what would the child look like, and how would the child’s life be different from the human life they have now. Also, each page gives interesting and unique animal facts along with vivid pictures. Children become enthralled with the vibrancy of each page, and they are also able to find humor in the pictures of human children with animal hair and teeth!

These books give wonderful information to children about the importance of animal traits. Although the main purpose is to provide information to the reader, the books also allow the reader to think about why it is important that each animal and human has unique characteristics. Children are able to learn about survival instincts of animals, camouflage, and the jobs these animals do in the wild. The mood and tone of these books give students a positive outlook on wild animals while still seeing the importance of their own teeth and hair.

These books are meant for children of elementary school age, but they can also be used to gain information for older children as well. The information is important, and the read is enjoyable. Both genders are equally represented in these books, and all different races of children are present as well, making both books incredibly approachable for a wide audience.

My students have found great joy in reading these books, and I have too! I love when students can enjoy nonfiction, and these books are a wonderful introduction to nonfiction books for my kindergarteners. I hope you are able to appreciate these books in the same way my class and I have!

- Kaitlynn DeGrano