What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Yes because it allows students to develop a greater understanding of the use of body parts among different species.

• Author: Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
• Illustrator: Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
• Year Published: 2003
• ISBN: 978-0-618-99713-8

Science Topics

• Life Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• 1st Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 5th Grade

Summary

This book talks about the many purposes served by different body parts of animals.

Evaluation

• Appropriateness: High
• Authority: Medium
• Accuracy: High
• Liteary Artistry: High
• Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Yes because it allows students to develop a greater understanding of the use of body parts among different species.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Yes because they are able to make predictions about each animal and then find out whether their predictions hold true. If they would like to know more about the individual animals, they can refer to the back of the book where more information is presented on each animal.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Yes because with every other page, different animals are cleverly introduced and then the following page makes an observation about the body part in question. Students are able to make inferences through the illustrations about the animal's body part and find out if their inferences are accurate.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

Yes because the science topic is about learning the purpose of different body parts and clearing up possible misconceptions about the animals that students might have.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

The content in the book appears to be accurate and based on sound and scientific principles. Rather than giving a basic explanation of the body parts, the book presents a more in depth outlook of what they are used for in nature.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The entire book is based on facts about animals, so fiction does not really apply to this literature.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations are clear, so the students can recognize the different body parts of animals and their uses. The text and illustrations go hand in hand. Both cater to the purpose of the book, which is to provide an accurate representation of body parts of species.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

The book seems to be written at the level of students from kindergarten to second grade. However, if used constructively, it could be applied to higher grade levels.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

The book is free from stereotyping, but there is not a multicultural component because there is no need for one.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The book is free from gender bias because it focuses on the different animals. There is no mention of humans or culture.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

Depending on the approach, the book could be presented in an artistic manner because the illustrations are such a major component of the literature. It could prompt students to think about the different ways they could create animals in art.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

The book provides a very positive attitude toward life science because it presents the animal facts in an interactive, fun and creative way.