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Pretty Close, but Not the Same
A Side-by-Side Look at Confusable Critters
By Meg Fleming
Illustrated by Steph Stilwell
Table of Contents
About The Book
In this funny and fascinating picture book, learn about pairs of similar animals that are often confused for each other, and what makes them different!
Tortoises and turtles, leopards and tigers, and crocodiles and gators all have similarities. But these easily confusable creatures are NOT the same!
Did you know that a dolphin has a bottlenose, while a porpoise has a snout? Or that a manatee’s tail is shaped like a paddle, and a dugong’s like a whale? Or that monkeys have tails, but apes do not?
With humorous text and hilarious illustrations, this book invites curious readers to discover what makes these animals special!
Tortoises and turtles, leopards and tigers, and crocodiles and gators all have similarities. But these easily confusable creatures are NOT the same!
Did you know that a dolphin has a bottlenose, while a porpoise has a snout? Or that a manatee’s tail is shaped like a paddle, and a dugong’s like a whale? Or that monkeys have tails, but apes do not?
With humorous text and hilarious illustrations, this book invites curious readers to discover what makes these animals special!
About The Author
Photo courtesy of the author
Meg Fleming is the author of Sometimes Rain, I Heart You, Here Comes Ocean!, Wondering Around, and The Everything Trail. A former voice teacher, Meg draws on her love of rhythm, rhyme, and lyricism to create and imagine stories. She lives in Minneapolis with her family. Visit her at MegFleming.net.
About The Illustrator
Steph Stilwell is a New York Times bestselling illustrator of books including I, Rock by Katie Slivensky and I Love You So Mush! by Dori Elys. Steph received her BFA in illustration from MICA and has since collaborated with clients like American Greetings, Snapchat, BarkBox, and Trader Joe’s. When she isn’t making work for clients, you’ll likely find her scribbling in her sketchbook, binge-watching a cooking show, or baking. Steph is based in Brooklyn, New York, and you can learn more at StephStilwell.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Beach Lane Books (May 5, 2026)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665979009
- Ages: 4 - 8
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Raves and Reviews
A cheery explainer for younger readers a bit hazy on the differences between animals like turtles and tortoises, or crocs and gators. “Pretty close. / But not the same,” goes the refrain as Fleming pairs and compares several sets of “confusable critters.” Some of the physical features she points to, such as the differently shaped snouts of dolphins and porpoises, may not be immediately discernable in real life, but Stilwell makes them prominent in her simplified figures. . . . The entry distinguishing bison from true buffalo should be a particular revelation for American readers of any age accustomed to using the two terms interchangeably. . . . For budding zoologists with a newly kindled interest in the topic. . . presented in animated verse.
– Kirkus, March 1, 2026
Awards and Honors
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): Pretty Close, but Not the Same
Fixed Layout eBook 9781665979009
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Author Photo (jpg): Meg Fleming Photo courtesy of the author(0.1 MB)
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