Module 11: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? 

by Steve Jenkins

2004 Caldecott Honor Book

Citation:

Jenkins, S., Jenkins, S., Page, R., & Houghton Mifflin Company. (2003). What do 
         you do with a tail like this?. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary

This book is an informational book about animals. It explains how “animals use their noses, ears, tails, eyes, mouths and feet in different ways.” The illustrations show close ups of the body part, allowing the reader to guess what animal they belong to. Turn the page to see full pictures of the animals. On this page, it explains how each animal uses that body part. At the end of the book, there is more information about the animals.

Impressions
This is a wonderful informational book. It is a great example of how not all “non-fiction” books have “real pictures.” I think readers would enjoy guessing what animal each part belongs to, then turning the page to see if they are right. This book should be recommended to elementary science teachers that teach about what animal’s body parts do. The collage illustrations are very well done.

Professional Reviews

K-Gr 4: Jenkins, this time in collaboration with his wife, has created yet another eye-opening book. Children will learn that lizards can completely break off their tailas a defense and that it will grow back. And, they'll find out that crickets' ears are on their knees. Most fish have two eyes, but some have four, the better to see above and below the water at the same time. These are just a few of the fascinating facts of nature dangled out front to draw readers into this beautifully illustrated book. On each spread, five different animals' tails, ears, eyes, or other body parts, done in vibrant cut-paper collage, appear with a simple question ("What do you do with a--like this?"). The next spread shows the five creatures in their entirety and offers a brief explanation. For example, "If you're an elephant, you use your nose to give yourself a bath." The back pages offer more information for older or more curious readers. This is a great book for sharing one-on-one or with a group.

School Library Journal

Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Meyers-Hines, W. 

          (2003). What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? [Review of Book]. School
           Library Journal, 49(3), 220.

T

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Preschool-Gr. 2. As with Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution (Houghton, 2002), Jenkins once again employs graphic, textured, cut-paper art and a generous use of white space to convey the natural world to younger readers, this time with a coauthor. Pairs of double-page spreads begin with a question ("What do you do with a nose like this?") and illustrations of a particular body part from a variety of "mystery" animals. Upon turning the page, readers find a complete illustration of each animal with information on how each uses its nose, eyes, ears, tail, and more. Perfect for group sharing, this title also features additional information on each animal's physical adaptations at the back of the book.

Book Links

Tillotson, L. (2004, 01). What do you do with a tail like this? [Review of
       Book]. Book Links, 13(3), 13. 

Library Uses

This book could be used to make a chart comparing how different animals use the same body parts. It could also be used to compare different types of informational books including some that have “real pictures,” and some that have illustrations. 

References

Amazon. (2016). [Image of cover]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/What-You- 

          Tail-Like-This/dp/061899713X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=

          1462320340&sr=1-1&keywords=what+do+you+do+with+a+tail+like+this

Jenkins, S., Jenkins, S., Page, R., & Houghton Mifflin Company. (2003). What do 

         you do with a tail like this?. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Meyers-Hines, W. 

          (2003). What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? [Review of Book]. School
           Library Journal, 49(3), 220.

Tillotson, L. (2004, 01). What do you do with a tail like this? [Review of Book]. 
          Book Links, 13(3), 13.