WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? by Steven Jenkins and Robin Page

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. 2003. What Do You Do With A Tail Like This?. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 061899713X

Summary

Jenkins gives us an interactive way to discover how different animal body parts can be used in interesting ways.

Critical Analysis

Did you know a platypus uses its nose to dig in the mud? Or that a cricket’s ear is on its knee? In this eye-opening book, Jenkins invites the reader to first think and guess what animal each body part would go to and how it is used by each animal, showing us only the specific part of the animal he is focusing on. He then gives a brief, but descriptive sentence about each animal and their interesting body part. If that one fact is not enough to quench the thirst for knowledge, Jenkins has provided more information on each animal at the book. The vibrant, collage type pictures bring the animals to life on each page.

Review Excerpts

2004 ALA Notable Books for Children award winner

2004 Caldecott nominee

Publishers Weekly - Steve Jenkins contributes another artistically wrought, imaginatively conceived look at the natural world. 

Booklist - This is a striking, thoughtfully created book with intriguing facts made more memorable through dynamic art. –Tim Arnold

Connections

This would a great introduction to animal adaptations and how they survive in their habitats.

A great companion text would be Steve Jenkins book Eye to Eye. ISBN 0547959079

This could lead into research about how other animals use different parts of their body.