Book Review: Hair!: Animal Fur, Wool, and More by Marilyn Singer, Julie Colombet

Hair!: Animal Fur, Wool, and More is a children's nonfiction book written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Julie Colombet. Why are humans and other mammals covered in hair, and why are there so many different types of it? Vivid photographs paired with a duo of quirky, illustrated hair guides serve to illuminate the fascinating facts about mammal hair: why it exists, what it's good for, and more. Readers will learn about different types of animal coats, such as fur and down, and explore the many different forms guard hairs take, such as the quills on a porcupine.

Hair!: Animal Fur, Wool, and More is a well balanced non fiction book for young readers. I like that information is given alongside beautiful photographs and illustrations that offer a combination of humor and fun facts. A great deal oft he information I already knew, some I had forgotten, and some was new or updated from what I had learned previously. The vocabulary was highlighted and dealt with well through out the book, and some of the terms I had forgotten in this context. The trivia at the end of the book goes into more detail about some of the information briefly mentioned elsewhere in the book, and will encourage some readers to study animals or people and their characteristics further. I really like that there was a glossary, further reading, and bibliography included in the end papers for those that are interested enough to do further research and reading. That always makes me happy.

Hair!: Animal Fur, Wool, and More is a well done book and I think it will be a high interest read for children interested in animals and any type of biology. The balance of images and interesting information might make this a favorite, and at least a regular reread for some.