The Fly (Disgusting Critters)

by Elise Gravel (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The first in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Fly is a look at the common housefly. It covers such topics as the hair on the fly's body (requires a lot of shaving), its ability to walk on the ceiling (it's pretty cool, but it's hard to play soccer up there), and its really disgusting food tastes (garbage juice soup followed by dirty diaper with rotten tomato sauce, for example).

Although silly and off-the-wall, The Fly contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

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School Library Journal

Gr 1-3--These easy-to-read entrants feature caricature-like cartoon illustrations that appealingly depict worms and flies. The brief text imparts information and is accompanied by chatty asides from the subjects ("I'll have the garbage juice soup for starters..." states a fly as it scans a restaurant menu, while an earthworm, after being told that humans use worms as bait and that some even enjoy eating them, protests, "Delicious? No, no, no!"). Readers will find these titles fun to peruse and will pick up some useful material on the subjects, along with a tasty soupcon of icky-ness.--Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Rare are nonfiction books that might appeal to a wider audience. The Fly by Elise Gravel (and the Disgusting Critters series to which it belongs) has the potential to do this. Funny, informative, gross, and just plain entertaining, it has a lot going for it .... Fact-filled enough to satisfy those interested in flies, yet with enough charm to grab those who aren't. This is a great entry into a series kids will likely latch onto." - School Library Journal

"Opportunities for jokes abound in The Fly .... Gravel takes obvious joy in detailing the housefly's typical meals, which include such savory delights as garbage-juice soup, dirty diapers, and doggie doo (cue the squeals of revulsion and giggling)." - Quill and Quire

"The Fly is a unique nonfiction book about the common housefly. Full of interesting facts, the book reads more like a picture book or simple graphic novel. Everything you never wanted to know about one of mankind's least favourite creatures is covered in this book .... This series is a must-read for children who like the world's most unlikeable creatures." - CM Magazine

".... delightfully distressing series ...." - The National Post
Elise Gravel
Elise Gravel is an award-winning author/illustrator from Quebec. She was the winner of the 2013 Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration in French, and is well-known in Quebec for her original, wacky picture books. She has published a number of books with US publisher Blue Apple and is currently working on a graphic novel for Roaring Brook Press. Having completed her studies in graphic design, Elise found herself quickly swept up into the glamorous world of illustration. Her old design habits drive her to work a little text here and there into her drawings and she loves to handle the design of her assignments from start to finish. She is inspired by social causes and is likes projects that can handle a good dose of eccentricity.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781770496361
Lexile Measure
670
Guided Reading Level
L
Publisher
Tundra Books (NY)
Publication date
March 11, 2014
Series
Disgusting Critters
BISAC categories
JNF051150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Zoology
JNF003120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Insects, Spiders, etc.
JNF046000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Readers | Intermediate
Library of Congress categories
Flies

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