Karen Koepcke Morgan (1963) lives in Monument, Colorado, USA. She has always had a fondness for animals. If you counted all the stuffed animals - along with live pets she has had in her life - it could make up a whole zoo. Karen writes stories for children that show appreciation for the natural world. She enjoys spending time in the mountains - with her husband, her grown daughter, son, their spouses, and her furry grandkids - skiing, hiking, biking, and spotting wildlife on a regular basis. The first in a series of picture books about extraordinary animals and their super talents was published with Clavis Publishing.

Belgian illustrator Nelke Roose has long been enchanted by nature. She earned her degree in Fine Arts from the City of Leuven Academy and Conservatory. While she was studying journalism, she crafted the content for a magazine, and by chance, decided to illustrate it as well. This led to her realization of an undiscovered passion. She now provides illustrations for birth announcements and magazines. Nelke lives in a studio in Mechelen, where she cares for an array of houseplants--bringing nature indoors.

"This fun introduction to unique animal characteristics challenges readers to put themselves into imaginary scenarios that highlight special physical abilities and senses. This offering has wide applications in that there are two story lines. For very young audiences, rhyming couplets pose challenges of "Could you? . . . Some do!"; for those who are slightly older or more invested, a second section on the facing page offers brief but informative paragraphs providing details about the special trait. For example, the query "Could you ward off bad guys without the help of a shield?" is answered with "Armadillos have a built-in coat of armor, interwoven with skin, to protect them in the field" and is further explained by the composition of the bony plates, their placement, and how armadillos usually run into bushes and hide when they feel threatened. Cheerful, bright illustrations model the described behaviors; a helpful concluding summary reviews the 11 profiled critters and their special characteristics. This is a worthy companion to the author-illustrator team's Are You Stronger than an Ant? (2024)." - Booklist

Publisher: Clavis

Pub date: 2025-04-22

Length: 32 pages