“What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?”

I recently came across a book that my 5 year old asks to be read over and over again. Maybe that isn’t such a good thing now that I think about all the nagging we get, but it must mean he enjoys it.

“What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?” was written by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins and isn’t brand new. In fact it was published in 2003, but I just discovered its magic with little kids. What is different about this cut-page collage of illustrations is that it keeps engaging your kids and every page will lead them to ask another question.

There is nothing better than feeding a curious imagination fueled by the “why” and “how” questions. Every page depicts five different animals’ tails, eyes, ears or other body parts and a simple question.

Did you know that most fish have two eyes, but some have four so that they can see above and below the water at the same time? There are nature and science facts oozing from this book, which makes my son love it. I know he likes it because he repeats what he has learned to himself and everyone we come into contact with.

For example, a typical conversation with the grocery store clerk goes like this, “Did you know that a lizard can break off its tail as a defense, but it grows back?”

Written by Emily, who is a married working mother of a very energetic 5 year old son. They reside in Southern Indiana (a little too close to the Kentucky border). Someday she’d like to visit Intercourse, PA and have her picture taken with the welcome sign. She writes at her personal blog, Fenicle and loves free samples and trying new things!