What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? [Paperback]

Steve Jenkins (Author), Steve Jenikins (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

What would you do if something wanted to eat you? Walk on water? Stick out your tongue? Play dead? Animals in the wild use all kinds of methods to protect themselves from their enemies. Using dynamic and intricate cut-paper collages, Steve Jenkins explores the many fascinating and unique defense mechanisms creatures use to escape from danger.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"In this absorbing tribute to nature's genius, cut-paper collages illustrate the built-in defenses of animals and insects," wrote PW. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. Jenkins answers the question of what different creatures do when another wants them for dinner. He identifies the animal on one page ("the bombardier beetle defends itself...") and then follows up with its defense mechanism on the next ("by shooting a mixture of hot chemicals from its rear end and into the face of an attacker"). The artist's trademark cut-paper collages on textured backgrounds show both attacker and potential prey on one page, and then a close-up of the animal escaping on the next. Defenses include mimicry, camouflage, and speed as well as specific responses such as the ink that octopuses use or the puffer fish's ability to expand itself. The final page invites readers to imagine, "What would you do if something wanted to eat you?" Useful for teachers introducing animal defenses and the terms that go along with the subject and a great choice for a storytime.?Sally Bates Goodroe, Houston Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (September 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618152431
• ISBN-13: 978-0618152438
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 9.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Zoology
  • #19 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Zoology
  • #49 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > General > Nonfiction

More About the Author

Steve Jenkins has written and illustrated nearly twenty picture books for young readers, including the Caldecott Honor-winning What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? His books have been called stunning, eyepopping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative. He lives in Colorado with his wife and frequent collaborator, Robin Page, and their children. To learn more about Steve and his books, visit www.stevejenkinsbooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Do You Do When Something wants to Eat You?, May 28, 2002

By 

Tina Scott (Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? (Paperback)

Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
Experience the roller coaster ride of intrigue and escape as the vibrant pages of this book come to life with each new danger. As the title suggests, this book explores many interesting and unusual ways that equally interesting and unusual animals avoid becoming a predator's dinner. The Basilisk Lizard, for example, narrowly escapes the beak of a vicious-looking heron by running across the water's surface. This unique talent has earned it the nickname "Jesus Christ Lizard" in his native country of South America. Other animals featured in this selection are the puffer fish, the blue-tongued skink, and the hog-nosed snake. The textured, vividly colorful, and eye-catching illustrations compliment the story as each of the fourteen predators face off against their potential prey. Parents will like that the book is educational, and children will find it entertaining. Although intended for children, this book is for anyone from age 4 to 104 who enjoys learning about animals.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great art, lots to learn, September 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat you (Hardcover)

My 6 year old and 4 year old loved this book and spent many hours actting out the "predator vs prey" scenarios and drawing pictures of the animals.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Do You Do When Something wants to Eat You?, May 28, 2002

By 

Tina Scott (Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? (Paperback)

Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
Experience the roller coaster ride of intrigue and escape as the vibrant pages of this book come to life with each new danger. As the title suggests, this book explores many interesting and unusual ways that equally interesting and unusual animals avoid becoming a predator's dinner. The Basilisk Lizard, for example, narrowly escapes the beak of a vicious-looking heron by running across the water's surface. This unique talent has earned it the nickname "Jesus Christ Lizard" in his native country of South America. Other animals featured in this selection are the puffer fish, the blue-tongued skink, and the hog-nosed snake. The textured, vividly colorful, and eye-catching illustrations compliment the story as each of the fourteen predators face off against their potential prey. Parents will like that the book is educational, and children will find it entertaining. Although intended for children, this book is for anyone from age 4 to 104 who enjoys learning about animals.