Grade K–3Nature & Science

Butt or Face?

Written & Illustrated by Kari Lavelle

Can you tell the difference between an animal's butt and its face? This hilarious and surprisingly educational picture book challenges readers to guess which end is which — and reveals the wild, weird, and wonderful ways animals use both ends to survive.

View Teacher Guide

From the Library Director

This book gets every single kid in the room laughing and leaning in at the same time — which is exactly what a great nonfiction picture book should do. Kari Lavelle has a gift for making science irresistible. Keep a copy at the circulation desk; it will never stay on the shelf.

Big Idea

Nature is full of surprises — and looking closely at the world around us, even the funny parts, is how scientists and curious kids discover how amazing animals really are.

Discussion Questions

1
Which animal surprised you the most? Why was it hard to tell its butt from its face?
2
Why do you think some animals look similar on both ends? How might that help them survive?
3
What is camouflage? Can you think of other animals that use camouflage or trickery to stay safe?
4
The book is funny AND full of facts. How does humor help you remember what you learned?
5
What does it mean to observe something carefully? Why is careful observation important for scientists?
6
If you were a scientist studying animals, what question would you most want to answer?
7
How do the illustrations help make the guessing game work? What clues did you use to make your guess?
8
What is one animal fact from this book you want to share with someone at home? Why did you choose that one?

Activity: Animal Fact or Funny?

Students research a real animal and create their own 'Butt or Face?' style page — combining a surprising fact with an illustration that challenges a classmate to look closely.

1
Choose an animal that interests you. Use a book or approved website to find two surprising facts about how it looks or behaves.
2
Draw a close-up of one part of your animal — without labeling it. Make it tricky! Is it a face, a tail, a fin, a wing?
3
On the back of your drawing, write the answer and explain the surprising fact that goes with it. Use at least two complete sentences.
4
Trade drawings with a partner. Try to guess what part of the animal they drew — then read each other's fact and discuss: did the fact surprise you?

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in an informational text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.6 — Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts naming a topic and supplying facts.
NGSS K-LS1-1 — Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive.
NGSS 2-LS4-1 — Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
Visual Literacy — Use illustrations and visual clues to make inferences and support comprehension of nonfiction text.