Do Pigs Have Stripes? (by Melanie Walsh)

The silly, riddle-like questions are appealing to young children. Kids catch on quickly to the predictable text, which lightheartedly mixes up obvious characteristics of animals. Bold, colorful illustrations provide additional clues and focus on familiar features such as an elephant's feet and a dog's "big black wet nose."

Young children are provided with a meaningful opportunity to develop their sense of humor. The silly suggestions contribute to the child's recognition of animal features and reinforce previously learned concepts. The predictable text and friendly illustrations support preschoolers as they make early attempts at reading by retelling the story. While preschoolers enjoy the surprise ending (yes, a giraffe does have a long, thin neck) some toddlers find the sudden switch in the predictable text confusing.