When Lunch Fights Back: Wickedly Clever Animal Defenses

By Rebecca L. Johnson

The octopus spies a nice, tasty mantis shrimp. It swims over for a closer look at the small creature. Then—WHAM!—the mantis shrimp strikes a nasty blow with its hammer-like forelimb. The octopus shrinks back, defeated. That wasn't such an easy meal after all . . .

In nature, good defenses can mean the difference between surviving a predator's attack and becoming its lunch. Some animals rely on sharp teeth and claws or camouflage. But that's only the beginning. Meet creatures with some of the strangest defenses known to science. How strange? Hagfish that can instantaneously produce oodles of gooey, slippery slime; frogs that poke their own toe bones through their skin to create claws; young birds that shoot streams of stinking poop; and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Aug 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781467772754

Rebecca L. Johnson

Rebecca L. Johnson writes award-winning nonfiction for children and young adults about scientific discoveries and the scientists who make them. She hopes her books will inspire new generations of scientists by introducing readers to some of the remarkable species with whom we share the planet. Learn more at www.rebeccajohnsonbooks.com.

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Reviews for When Lunch Fights Back

[montzaleew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Lunch Fights Back
Wickedly Clever Animal Defenses
by Rebecca L. Johnson
This book is such a blast! Animals with wicked and unpredictable weapons such as super stinky and super sticky vomit, ultra gross shooting poo, nasty tasting blood they shoot out of their eyes and more! How great is that? Why don't humans have such cool tricks? This is an audible book and the narrator was terrific! She explained things well and in a clear, crisp voice! This was made for middle age kids but I think all ages, even old ladies like me, will get a kick out of it! Informative and entertaining! Win/win!
Thanks NetGalley for letting me listen to this wonderful book!

[nataliecjones · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was a little confusing at times, and they pictures were not the clearest.. I like the format of it though. The author started out with a story about how an animal defended against another animal. Then in the next section, the science behind the animal's defensive reaction is explained. This could be used to allow students to make predictions about what they think the science will be. This would be for older kids, intermediate level

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An informative, entertaining, frequently gross look at a variety of critters with unique defensive capabilities. Appealingly designed with great color photographs. Excellent material for booktalking.

[paula2childrenslib · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Presents the various types of defenses mechanisms used by animals, including the bone spikes of the African hairy frog, the deadly poison of the blue-spotted N. taracua termite, and the hammer-like punch of the peacock mantis shrimp.

[mishker-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Slime, bone claws, poisonous pustules, blasting poop, sticky vomit, streaming blood.

These are some of the tactics featured that these curious prey animals utilize. A wonderful way to get kids interested in different animals, biodiversity and predator-prey relationships. With bright, colorful pictures and quick, gross descriptions, kids from the ages of 5-12 will love this. The gross-ness is backed up with simple, scientific facts and the cool jobs that go with it. Even one plant is featured. A great book for children who are interested in animals and nature.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.