What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve, & Page, Robin. 2003. What do you do with a tail like this?. Ill. by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618256280

 

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this survey picture book, Jenkins describes the different parts of animals and the unique things about them. Each section begins with the same question “What do you do with…?” and then asks about the body part that will be highlighted. It begins with noses, then ears, tails, eyes, feet, and mouths. Animals from many different habitats and classes are highlighted; elephants, moles, bats, whales, bush babies, horned lizards, and so many more.

 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

  Steve Jenkins’ reputation really contributes to the credibility of the work. He is known for the quality of his nonfiction books. If he didn’t have this, it would be hard to know whether the book was credible on its own. There is no bibliography or sources listed. A section in the back gives a lot more great information about the animals mentioned throughout the book. The book is organized in a way that really grasps young readers’ attention. The questions and answers all follow a pattern that would be easy for kids to pick up on. The short snippets of information are all interesting, true, and easy to follow. Each piece of information encourages further investigation into the other things these interesting animals can do, and other animals that could also be mentioned in the different sections of the book.

The illustrations in this book won it a Caldecott Honor and they really are beautiful! The mix of textures and colors creates a more realistic representation of each animal. They capture a reader’s attention and make the animals more visually appealing. The white background calls attention to the details found in each animal, and the information that is shared.

 

 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALA Notable Children's Books

Caldecott Honor Books

Starred review in Booklist: “Here’s another exceptional cut-paper science book from Jenkins, this time put together with a partner”

Reviewed in Horn Book Guide: “Cut-paper collages of animals and close-ups of their noses, ears, tails, eyes, mouths, and feet set against white backgrounds invite readers to think about animal adaptations.”

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.”

Starred review in Library Media Connection: “This wonderfully creative and well-designed book will be fun for early readers who enjoy animals.”

Reviewed in Publishers Weekly: “Steve Jenkins contributes another artistically wrought, imaginatively conceived look at the natural world.”

Starred review in School Library Journal: “Jenkins, this time in collaboration with his wife, has created yet another eye-opening book.”

 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Students could select new animals to investigate and write a new section with or use some of the animals mentioned in a new section of body parts.

*Students could pick the different parts of the animals mentioned and create a new animal. They could describe what makes each part of their body special and decide where the best place for them to live would be and why it would be the best.

*Other nonfiction books written by Steve Jenkins:

Jenkins, Steve. The beetle book. ISBN 9780547680842

Jenkins, Steve. Move!. ISBN 9781328895738

Jenkins, Steve. Bones: Skeletons and how they work. ISBN 9780545046510

Jenkins, Steve. The shark book. ISBN 9781328569493