Why Can't Potatoes Walk?: 200 Answers to Possible and Impossible Questions About Animals and Nature

When it comes to animals and nature, there is no end to our curiosity. Around ten thousand questions a year land on Lars-Åke Janzon’s desk at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. In this sequel to the successful book How Long Can a Fly Fly?, Janzon responds to nutty questions, freak happenings, and odd observations with interesting facts and explanations. Learn about snake sex, animals’ brightly colored warning signals, and why a vulture was arrested in Saudi Arabia on suspicion of being an Israeli spy. Find out the facts behind the headlines about Thailand’s poisonous jellyfish and the “killer sharks” of Sharm el-Sheikh. For over ten years, Janzon has been researching the answers to questions like:

• What color will a chameleon turn if it lies on a chessboard?
• Why are flounders flat?
• How do sea urchins make love?
• How did wolves become big and bad?
• Why do animals migrate across Africa?
• Which animal has the longest tongue?
• Do fish spit?

In addition to answering these and many other questions, Janzon breaks down scientific terminology, lists animal stats, debunks myths, and answers all sorts of did-you-knows you never even thought to ask about nature and evolution.

Written with warm humor and educational zeal and accompanied by Lukas Möllersten’s imaginative illustrations, this fun and educational book is perfect for all ages of readers with a casual interest in understanding just a little bit more about nature.