What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2008. What
Do You Do With a Tail Like This?. Boston, MA: Sandpiper. ISBN 978-0618997138
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Young children love animals, and they love learning about
animals. Steve Jenkins shares animal
facts that children of all ages will enjoy.
The book focuses on the functions of animal body parts. In one section, the book intertwines eagles,
chameleons, fish, horned lizards, and bush babies together as Jenkins describes
the unique manner in which the animals utilize their eyes. This continues throughout the book with
various body parts and a wide variety of animals.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Steven Jenkins and his wife Robin Page have written and
illustrated many children’s non-fiction books, but What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? is one of their most
impressive accomplishments. Their
reputation is exceptional and the attention to factual detail is one of the key
factors that sets this book apart from others in the same genre.
This informational book groups the body parts of animals
together, instead of the animals themselves.
This approach allows children to learn about the functions of specific
body parts, in addition to facts about the animals. This layout engages the young reader and
encourages cognitive comparisons between various animals. The cut-paper illustrations are classic
Jenkins and Page style and add a three-dimensional quality to every page.
The unique organization by animal body part allows more
information to be included in the text, without overwhelming younger
readers. However, older readers are
given expanded, more detailed, information about the animals and their body
functions in a section in the rear of the book. This section bridges the gap between an easy
read book and creates a resource of solid, factual information for a more
mature reader.
The book is a must-own for every home library targeted
towards preschool and early school age children.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book 2004
ALA Notable Book 2004
Garden State Book Award for Children’s Nonfiction 2006
South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee 2005-2006
Charlotte Zolotow Commendation
Starred Review in Booklist:
“Jenkins' handsome paper-cut
collages are both lovely and anatomically informative, and their white
background helps emphasize the particular feature, be it the bush baby's
lustrous, liquid-brown eyes or the skunk's fuzzy tail. This is a striking,
thoughtfully created book with intriguing facts made more memorable through
dynamic art.”
Starred Review in School
Library Journal: “…yet another
eye-opening book.”
Starred Review in Kirkus
Reviews: “…this array of wide
eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and
open mouths of their own.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Other books about animal facts:
Simon, Seymour. New Questions and Answers About Dinosaurs. ISBN 0-688-08196-7
Page, Robin. Time to Eat. ISBN 978-0547250328
Branzel, Sylvia.
Animal Grossology: The Science of Creatures Gross and Disgusting.
ISBN 978-0843110111
*Other books by
Steve Jenkins:
The Beetle Book.
ISBN 978-0547680842
What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat
You?. ISBN 0-395-82514-8
Actual Size. ISBN 978-0547512914