B.C. author Fiona Bayrock fills this rather unique book with little-known facts, all connected by the delightful theme of bubbles. With a wide range of amazing animal stories – including a spider that lives in a web bubble and a frog that lays eggs in a treetop bubble nest – Bubble Homes and Fish Farts celebrates the wonders of nature. Each spread includes the heading “Bubbles Are For …” (sailing, fishing, shooting hoops, etc.), a sub-heading that lists the common and scientific names of the organism in question, and a roughly 100-word block of narrative text. Speech balloons infuse the book with humour.

Soft-toned watercolour paintings by Portland, Oregon’s Carolyn Conahan depict a different habitat and organism on each spread. The whimsical style of the artwork renders even creatures such as spiders and fish cute and appealing, while Conahan’s muted palette unites the disparate collection of organisms.

Unfortunately, the science is sometimes difficult to grasp due to the restrictions imposed by the book’s design and organization. No contents page is included. “More Amazing Facts” – a feature at the back of the book that includes each organism’s habitat, region, and length – requires readers to flip pages to try to find the corresponding spread; no page references are provided. As well, the names of organisms are not included in the glossary/index, which includes some unwieldly terms and repeats information explained in the main text.

Apart from these criticisms, the book’s strong cover, catchy title, and excellent artwork will prompt curious young naturalists to dive in and learn how animals use bubbles in ingenious ways.