Friday, February 10, 2012

Perfect Picture Book Friday

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and his wife Robin Page
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Suitable For:                                                         
Ages 5 and up

Theme/Topic: 
Science

Opening:
Animals use their noses, ears, eyes,tails, eyes, mouths, and feet in very different ways. See if you can guess which animal each part belongs to and how it is used. At the back of this book you can find out more about these animals.

Synopsis: 
A nose for digging? Ears for seeing? Eyes that squirt blood? Explore the many amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails in this beautifully illustrated interactive guessing book by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.

Why I loved it:
What's not to love? It's incredibly done, educational, gripping, and loads of fun! It teaches about so many interesting body parts: A platypus uses its nose "to dig in the mud." But "[i]f you're an elephant, you use your nose to give yourself a bath" [image of trunk squirting water back over elephant's head]. For ears, you learn that a jackrabbit uses its ears to keep cool, and crickets have ears on their knees. A chimpanzee can eat with its feet, and a gecko's feet are sticky so it can walk on the ceiling. Isn't that fun?

Links To Resources: 
At the end of the book, a section includes a one-paragraph "bio" with additional details about each animal, with the rest of the story on the unique appendage. 



Go visit Susanna Leonard Hill and check out the other super fantastic picture books featured.


*shakes fist at blogger* It looks like the same font and it looks all neat until I publish it. *sigh*

35 comments:

  1. Hi Robyn .. sounds an intriguing book for youngsters .. animals are amazing and the younger the kids connect with the world the better off they'll be later on - as will we I hope!

    Blogger is a pain isn't it - at least I can comment here - with embedded comment boxes I am unable to ..

    Cheers enjoy the weekend ... Hilary

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  2. I want to read this! Its sounds great. Eyes that squirt blood? Really???

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  3. I'm not so interested in the eyes that squirt blood, but this could be a good one to read before a trip to the zoo.

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  4. Hilary, animals are amazing! I want all kids to develop a love for them. I hear so many bad stories of kids abusing animals. :(

    Blogger makes me soooo steamed! ugh.

    Have a lovely weekend. *waving*

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  5. That sounds lots of fun and educational too. Cheers Robyn *hifive*

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  6. Ruth, eyes that squirt blood! So gross for boys. Ha! :-)

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  7. This is one of our all-time favorites. I love how Jenkins includes additional information about the animals in the back.

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  8. Stacy, Enzo would love the gross out factor. Trust me. *grin*

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  9. Catherine, *hifive* *on the side* *wink*

    It is educational and a lot of fun! Have an excellent weekend. (((hugs)))

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  10. Kirsten, Isn't it a well done book? I love the facts too. *smiling*

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  11. We own this one, Robyn and my boys do love it! I agree with you, "what's not to love?" Great choice! :)

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  12. Natalie, it's definitely a boy book, isn't it? We love it! Glad you do too. :-) *smiling and waving*

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  13. We have that book. Kids have outgrown it but it holds special memories so we'll let the kids fight over it when they have their own kids.

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  14. Oh...sounds like a great book. It is added to my "need to read" list. Thanks for the review.

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  15. I know! That's excellent isn't it Angie? :-)

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  16. Penny, it's wonderful. I love books that teach science in a fun way. So many kids end up hating science. This little picture book gives them a love for science stuff. :-)

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  17. Robyn, I am with you, it sounds ace all round. I know I would love to guess which animal and learn loads in the fun process. Great choice for PPBF!

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  18. Hi Robyn, this sounds like a wonderful book.

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  19. I love your reviews. Looks like a great teaching book.

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  20. Alex, you can still learn science, big boy. *wink* :-)

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  21. Joanna, this book is a must for the little ones and the bigger ones. It's got a cool gross out factor for boys. Ha!

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  22. It is, Rachna! Very sciency. Happy weekend.

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  23. Patti, this book is awesome. It's a book to read over and over. It also gets the kidlets to thinking and wondering about all kinds of stuff. :-) (((hugs)))

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  24. Hi Robyn, this sound like a great one for the classroom and to bring home. Thanks for the share

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  25. I love the sound of this book! I love learning about animals and all the different cool things they can do and why. This sounds like a book kids would really enjoy - and learn a lot from too! Thanks so much for adding it to our list, Robyn!

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  26. I think this is a great books for kids and adults. I hope we create a whole generation of kids who are interested in animals and concervation. Such a great book with amazing information.

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  27. This sounds like so much fun to read and full of educational facts too. Love books like that. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Eyes that squirt blood! Geckos walking on the ceiling! This is a must read! Sounds like a cool way to learn about animals :)

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  29. This is a perfect book for my animal loving, Arthur! Thank you.

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  30. Robyn...thank you for picking this book for PPBF! Kids will love the humor...but will appreciate and be amazed by the reality of it all.

    Also, I went to the "activities" link and love the idea of using the book to encourage kids to use teamwork in their everyday life...each of us is only a part of the whole. :) And, I found out that the author and illustrator are married and live just up the road from me in Boulder, CO. :)
    Great review, Robyn!

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  31. Sounds like another winner! Thanks Robyn! What would we do without you? :)
    Big hugs amigo,
    Karen

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  32. Sounds an interesting book for young ones, Robyn! Thanks for posting!

    I'm always happy to find good books for young minds!

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