How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you've probably picked up on the fact that I'm a fan of Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Why? Because I think they do an amazing job of making nonfiction interesting and engaging and presenting fun and interesting facts. I also think they make an effort to keep their content fresh. I always know that when I pick up one of their books that I'm going to learn lots of new information about animals.

Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed with their newest book, published today, How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?.

This book presents a number of challenges animals face along with their unique methods for solving the problem. For example, one challenge is digging holes. Readers are presented with the question, "How many ways can you dig a hole?" When you turn the page, there is a two-page spread showing how different animals dig holes. There is an aardvark making burrows with his front legs and claws, a Mexican burrowing toad digging into mud with its feet, a red rock urchin wearing away rock or coral with its teeth, and more.

Other challenges presented in the book include catching flies, snaring fish, hatching eggs, using leaves, and eating clams. At the end of the book, readers can learn even more about each animal featured.

Accompanying the fact-filled text are Jenkins' customary colorful paper collage illustrations. I never fail to be amazed at how he captures so many details and facial expressions with the collages.


This is a book that I highly recommend to children who are interested in animals, and it would make an excellent cross-curricular resource for science, geography, social studies, and language arts lessons. It may also inspire young readers to come up with creative ways of solving their own problems after seeing how the animals in book do it.

Visit Steve Jenkins' website to learn more about his work and to learn how he makes his books.


More Information:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (October 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061896634X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618966349
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Visit Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday selections.