While I normally group picture books together by theme, “Whose Tail?” by Agathe Hennig is such a visually stunning book that it merits being featured on its own. The watercolor images of the animals are pieces of art on their own, but combined with the clever riddles, the careful folding of the pages to reveal only the tail at first glance, and the heavy rich feel to each page, all make this a must-have book for children.

As you turn the pages, you first see a tail or two or three and on the facing page is a riddle. The first one: “A master of disguise.
I am hardly seen-
Turning into shades
of orange, blue, or green.”
Of course, it’s a chameleon and there are three of them. Drawn in bright green, oranges and blues, they truly are a sight to behold. Below you can see the tails on a different animal, the stingray.

Even older children (think second and third grade) will enjoy the riddles and the beautiful artwork. Parents will enjoy seeing their children engaged in reading and perhaps laughing at the riddles. Librarians will appreciate the quality of the construction of the book—it’s made to last. Classroom teachers might use this and do a riddle a day to engage kids first thing in the morning.

This treasure would be a perfect gift for holidays or birthdays, or even for a newborn. Peter Pauper Press is a small publisher. Their children’s’ books are high quality and almost always informative and beautifully created. I also recommend “Ensemble,” “All the Fish in the World,” and “All the Mammals in the World.” Check out their website.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by the publisher, Peter Pauper Press, for review purposes.