What's Looking At You Kid?

From acclaimed U.S. Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis comes a delightful exploration of the wildlife easily found in our backyards and along the seashore. Simple rhymes and riddles are used to help the youngest of readers identify our wildlife neighbors, including birds, small mammals, and insects.

Format List Price Your Price Qty
$14.95 $14.95
$26.95 $26.95
Interest Level Grade 1 - Grade 4
Reading Level
Dewey E
Lexile
ATOS Reading Level
Guided Reading Level
Language English
Publisher Sleeping Bear Press
Available Formats Hardcover (9781585367931), PDF (9781410310170), Hosted ebook (9781627535458)
Copyright 2012, 2014
Number of Pages 32
Dimensions 9 x 9
Graphics Full-color illustrations
  • Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Shortlist, Short-listed, 2013
  • USA Best Books Award--Children's Picture Book Finalist, Runner-up, 2012
  • 2012 USA Best Book Award Finalist - Children's Picture Book - Hardcover Fiction, Short-listed, 2012

A Review of "What’s Looking at You, Kid?" in Booklist

Lewis, the current Children’s Poet Laureate, offers rhymes as riddles. Examples include “Hanging in the air’s the thing / he can do without a wing / Look, a yo-yo on a string! Whee!” and “Look who’s into something sweet. / She must live on Honey Street. / She’s got honey on her feet!” Each answer names an animal, and, in these examples, the first is a spider, and the second a bee. Although the full pollen baskets on the bee’s legs are a bit distracting, as they’re unexplained and unrelated to the riddle, the paintings are usually uncomplicated, helpful, and pleasing. Many of the riddles would be difficult to solve without a hint, but the illustrations make the answers obvious. When sharing the book with groups of children, readers may want to pause after reading each rhyme, before showing the picture. Apart from the title, which winks at adults, this playful picture book invites involvement and response from young children.

Author: J. Patrick Lewis

J. Patrick Lewis is the author of 60 books for children, 50 of them in poetry. He is also the coauthor of three terrific children and four delightful grandchildren. He writes full-time, makes 30 elementary school visits a year, and keynotes at literature conferences. First Dog is his first book with his daughter Beth. Pat, or Grandpat, as his grandkids call him, is married and lives in Westerville, Ohio. 

Illustrator: Renée Graef

Renée Graef and her children spent many of her birthdays walking the 990-foot breakwater to reach the Port Washington Lighthouse. She has illustrated over 80 books for children including T is for Time; D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet; the “Kirsten” books in the American Girl Collection; and many of the My First Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Renée splits her time between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Los Angeles, California. Learn more about her work at www.reneegraef.com.

Full-color illustrations