WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Don't Eat the Cleaners! by Susan Stockdale
ABOUT THE BOOK
Just like you have to take a bath and brush your teeth, fish also have basic hygiene practices they have to follow every day. But their approach to cleanliness doesn't just take place underwater—it involves a network of larger ocean animals washed by small fish and shrimp called cleaners at coral reef cleaning stations around the world.
Cleaners remove pesky parasites from their customers in return for a tasty meal, serving up to 2000 customers a day. Sea turtles, manta rays, and even sharks line up for a scrubbing in the busy stations, just like at a car wash. Some customers return 100 times daily. And they must remember the important rule if they want a washing by the cleaning DON’T EAT THE CLEANERS!
REVIEW
Young readers are bound to be intrigued by the idea that ocean dwelling animals need to be cleaned just like them! Despite living in water full time, fish and other creatures need to have dead skin and parasites removed on a regular basis. To get it done they travel to a 'cleaning station', a place on a coral reef where smaller fish and shrimp called cleaners live. The cleaners then remove the dead skin and parasites without getting devoured. This symbiotic relationship benefits both the cleaners, who get a meal, and the 'customer' who gets cleaned. Stockdale's bright digital illustrations highlight the creatures who get cleaned as well as the cleaners. The back matter includes a list of the animals included in the book and encourages the reader to go back and identify them in the main body of the book. Not only is Don't Eat the Cleaners! informative but very eye-catching as well. Children will be eager to explain to everyone they know that fish need baths too! Highly recommended.
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