{"id":4857632587855,"title":"13 Ways to Eat a Fly","handle":"13-ways-to-eat-a-fly","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sue-heavenrich\"\u003eSue Heavenrich\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/david-clark\"\u003eDavid Clark\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThirteen flies become tasty snacks in this clever reverse counting book about subtraction, predators, and prey.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScience meets subtraction in this fresh and funny STEM picture book with plenty of ewww factor to please young readers. A swarm of thirteen flies buzzes along, losing one member to each predator along the way. Whether the unfortunate insects are zapped or wrapped, liquefied or zombified, the science is real—thrillingly chilling and laugh-out-loud gross. Includes a guide to eating bugs, complete with nutritional information for a single serving of flies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/whats-for-dinner\"\u003eWhat's for Dinner?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/bugs-for-lunch\"\u003e Bugs for Lunch\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/behold-the-beautiful-dung-beetle\"\u003eBehold the Beautiful Dung Beetle\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-spread.jpg?v=1610470642\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cvr.jpg?v=1610470642\" alt=\"13 Ways to Eat a Fly cover image\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1610470659\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-activity-kit.pdf?v=1652459309\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSue Heavenrich, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSue Heavenrich has eaten flies—small ones, and mostly by accident. She has also done research on ants, bees, and spiders and taught cockroaches how to run mazes. After earning her MS in biology and teaching high-school science, Sue began writing about science and nature in magazines, newspapers, and blogs. She is the author of several books, including \u003ci\u003eDiet for a Changing Planet: Food for Thought\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a book for teens about how to save the world by eating bugs, weeds, and invasive species.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sue-heavenrich\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Clark, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Clark is the illustrator of many books for children, including \u003ci\u003eNever Insult a Killer Zucchini\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e What's for Dinner? Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World\u003c\/i\u003e and the Just Like Us! series. He is also the illustrator and co-creator of the syndicated comic strip Barney \u0026amp; Clyde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/david-clark\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about David.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year 2022\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist, starred review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuess who’s coming to dinner? Well stocked with easy-to-digest facts, from nature notes (“The frog closes its eyes and swallows, using its eyeballs to push the fly down its throat”) to the taxonomic names of the 13 different kinds of flies that Clark renders with distinguishing details (and deservedly anxious expressions) in his cartoon illustrations, this disquisition on flies as food will draw swarms of young readers. Following a countdown entrée in which the said baker’s dozen are, one by one, gobbled up by predators ranging from birds, bats, and a fly-eating fungus to an unwary skateboarder (gross but, claims Heavenrich, “harmless”), subsequent courses dish up observations on the insect’s importance as a food source, its real potential as a food additive, its nutritional content (with a table modeled after the one printed on cereal boxes), and a labeled chart of fly body parts, from the “soft and chewy” abdomen to antennae (“high in fiber”). Budding STEM-winders especially will relish meaty closing lists of print and web resources. Amplify the buzz by pairing this biological bounty with Brigit Heos’ introduction to another segment of the life cycle, \u003ci\u003eWhat to Expect When You’re Expecting Larvae\u003c\/i\u003e, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\nThirteen short, rhyming answers are given to this question: How do birds, fish, mammals, and insects capture and eat flies? Some of these feeding methods are described as “zapped,” “wrapped,” and “underground.” Each of these tactics is explained in a descriptive paragraph of two or three sentences that centers on a specific animal and how it eats flies. For example, a garden spider captures a fly in its web, injects its prey with poison, and then wraps it in silk so that it resembles a burrito. Each paragraph is accompanied by a large illustration or two. These colorful illustrations are clear, but often humorously exaggerated. The text concludes that flies are a major food source for many animals. Educators could use this book for multiple lessons. The rhyming “ways” to eat a fly could be adopted for choral reading, with some of the factual information also included. Children could discuss how different animals capture and eat flies as food. VERDICT A lighthearted nonfiction picture book that could easily be used with young children in different ways.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCounting insect corpses has never been so much fun. Thirteen species of flies and gnats meet their untimely demises as they’re devoured by amphibians, fish, birds, plants, other insects, and more. The structure of the book is deceptively simple: Each doomed insect is described by a single participle (which rhymes with the participle that describes the next) along with a comical cartoon of each fly’s passing. As each fly bites the dust, a small note identifies the species by its common and scientific names. The plot becomes more sophisticated with a brief paragraph that explains how and why each fly was eaten. As there are 13 flies, the final death doesn’t have a rhyme, but it discusses flies as food for humans (with the assumption that readers do not belong to cultures that currently include insects in their diets) and how food scientists may be looking toward the insect world for alternate protein sources. The format allows readers across different age ranges to enjoy the book either for the simple rhymes (and visual zest) or for the intriguing study of the food web. A select bibliography includes books, websites, and news stories that will entice curious readers looking to learn more. Fans of \u003ci\u003eAnts Don’t Wear Pants!\u003c\/i\u003e and Kevin McCloskey’s other graphic novels will appreciate the illustrations and humor of this unusual counting book. Fly out and buy it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are 120,000 different kinds of flies, all of which have predators ready to devour them. But before the flies go down the hatch, they have to be caught, and that's the focus of this humorous and informative look at food preparation on the fly. The book does a countdown of thirteen different methods: frogs use their tongues to zap them; crab spiders snatch them with their long front legs; garden spiders employ a two-step process, first killing flies with venom and then wrapping them up \"like a burrito.\" Trout wait until baby flies, or midges, hatch just above the water's surface and then simply leap and gulp. Clark's bright, digitally colored creatures, with exaggerated facial expressions, set the tone; visual humor abounds, including the recurring lineup of different species of fly that decreases by one as the countdown progresses. A witty text culminates with equally amusing back matter, from a food label listing nutritional information (one serving: 65-80 flies, \"depending on species\") that accompanies a tongue-in-cheek guide to fine fly dining, to a diagram labeling the edible parts of a fly. Appended with further reading and websites for children and a bibliography of sources. Bon appetit!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2PY15lso-I0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-  EPUB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4–8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 8.5\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2021-01-22T11:49:20-05:00","created_at":"2021-01-12T11:48:35-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature"],"price":1699,"price_min":1699,"price_max":1699,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":32842275061839,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"98904","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":{"id":16097592836175,"product_id":4857632587855,"position":1,"created_at":"2021-01-12T11:50:13-05:00","updated_at":"2021-01-27T13:03:12-05:00","alt":"13 Ways to Eat a Fly book cover image","width":3300,"height":2550,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover.jpg?v=1611770592","variant_ids":[32842275061839]},"available":true,"name":"13 Ways to Eat a Fly - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1699,"weight":482,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":22,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781580898904","featured_media":{"alt":"13 Ways to Eat a Fly book cover image","id":8271646425167,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.294,"height":2550,"width":3300,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover.jpg?v=1611770592"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover.jpg?v=1611770592"],"featured_image":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover.jpg?v=1611770592","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"13 Ways to Eat a Fly book cover image","id":8271646425167,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.294,"height":2550,"width":3300,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover.jpg?v=1611770592"},"aspect_ratio":1.294,"height":2550,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/products\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover.jpg?v=1611770592","width":3300}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sue-heavenrich\"\u003eSue Heavenrich\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/david-clark\"\u003eDavid Clark\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThirteen flies become tasty snacks in this clever reverse counting book about subtraction, predators, and prey.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScience meets subtraction in this fresh and funny STEM picture book with plenty of ewww factor to please young readers. A swarm of thirteen flies buzzes along, losing one member to each predator along the way. Whether the unfortunate insects are zapped or wrapped, liquefied or zombified, the science is real—thrillingly chilling and laugh-out-loud gross. Includes a guide to eating bugs, complete with nutritional information for a single serving of flies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/whats-for-dinner\"\u003eWhat's for Dinner?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/bugs-for-lunch\"\u003e Bugs for Lunch\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/behold-the-beautiful-dung-beetle\"\u003eBehold the Beautiful Dung Beetle\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-spread.jpg?v=1610470642\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cvr.jpg?v=1610470642\" alt=\"13 Ways to Eat a Fly cover image\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1610470659\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/13-ways-to-eat-a-fly-activity-kit.pdf?v=1652459309\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSue Heavenrich, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSue Heavenrich has eaten flies—small ones, and mostly by accident. She has also done research on ants, bees, and spiders and taught cockroaches how to run mazes. After earning her MS in biology and teaching high-school science, Sue began writing about science and nature in magazines, newspapers, and blogs. She is the author of several books, including \u003ci\u003eDiet for a Changing Planet: Food for Thought\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a book for teens about how to save the world by eating bugs, weeds, and invasive species.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sue-heavenrich\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Clark, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Clark is the illustrator of many books for children, including \u003ci\u003eNever Insult a Killer Zucchini\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e What's for Dinner? Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World\u003c\/i\u003e and the Just Like Us! series. He is also the illustrator and co-creator of the syndicated comic strip Barney \u0026amp; Clyde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/david-clark\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about David.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year 2022\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist, starred review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuess who’s coming to dinner? Well stocked with easy-to-digest facts, from nature notes (“The frog closes its eyes and swallows, using its eyeballs to push the fly down its throat”) to the taxonomic names of the 13 different kinds of flies that Clark renders with distinguishing details (and deservedly anxious expressions) in his cartoon illustrations, this disquisition on flies as food will draw swarms of young readers. Following a countdown entrée in which the said baker’s dozen are, one by one, gobbled up by predators ranging from birds, bats, and a fly-eating fungus to an unwary skateboarder (gross but, claims Heavenrich, “harmless”), subsequent courses dish up observations on the insect’s importance as a food source, its real potential as a food additive, its nutritional content (with a table modeled after the one printed on cereal boxes), and a labeled chart of fly body parts, from the “soft and chewy” abdomen to antennae (“high in fiber”). Budding STEM-winders especially will relish meaty closing lists of print and web resources. Amplify the buzz by pairing this biological bounty with Brigit Heos’ introduction to another segment of the life cycle, \u003ci\u003eWhat to Expect When You’re Expecting Larvae\u003c\/i\u003e, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\nThirteen short, rhyming answers are given to this question: How do birds, fish, mammals, and insects capture and eat flies? Some of these feeding methods are described as “zapped,” “wrapped,” and “underground.” Each of these tactics is explained in a descriptive paragraph of two or three sentences that centers on a specific animal and how it eats flies. For example, a garden spider captures a fly in its web, injects its prey with poison, and then wraps it in silk so that it resembles a burrito. Each paragraph is accompanied by a large illustration or two. These colorful illustrations are clear, but often humorously exaggerated. The text concludes that flies are a major food source for many animals. Educators could use this book for multiple lessons. The rhyming “ways” to eat a fly could be adopted for choral reading, with some of the factual information also included. Children could discuss how different animals capture and eat flies as food. VERDICT A lighthearted nonfiction picture book that could easily be used with young children in different ways.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCounting insect corpses has never been so much fun. Thirteen species of flies and gnats meet their untimely demises as they’re devoured by amphibians, fish, birds, plants, other insects, and more. The structure of the book is deceptively simple: Each doomed insect is described by a single participle (which rhymes with the participle that describes the next) along with a comical cartoon of each fly’s passing. As each fly bites the dust, a small note identifies the species by its common and scientific names. The plot becomes more sophisticated with a brief paragraph that explains how and why each fly was eaten. As there are 13 flies, the final death doesn’t have a rhyme, but it discusses flies as food for humans (with the assumption that readers do not belong to cultures that currently include insects in their diets) and how food scientists may be looking toward the insect world for alternate protein sources. The format allows readers across different age ranges to enjoy the book either for the simple rhymes (and visual zest) or for the intriguing study of the food web. A select bibliography includes books, websites, and news stories that will entice curious readers looking to learn more. Fans of \u003ci\u003eAnts Don’t Wear Pants!\u003c\/i\u003e and Kevin McCloskey’s other graphic novels will appreciate the illustrations and humor of this unusual counting book. Fly out and buy it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are 120,000 different kinds of flies, all of which have predators ready to devour them. But before the flies go down the hatch, they have to be caught, and that's the focus of this humorous and informative look at food preparation on the fly. The book does a countdown of thirteen different methods: frogs use their tongues to zap them; crab spiders snatch them with their long front legs; garden spiders employ a two-step process, first killing flies with venom and then wrapping them up \"like a burrito.\" Trout wait until baby flies, or midges, hatch just above the water's surface and then simply leap and gulp. Clark's bright, digitally colored creatures, with exaggerated facial expressions, set the tone; visual humor abounds, including the recurring lineup of different species of fly that decreases by one as the countdown progresses. A witty text culminates with equally amusing back matter, from a food label listing nutritional information (one serving: 65-80 flies, \"depending on species\") that accompanies a tongue-in-cheek guide to fine fly dining, to a diagram labeling the edible parts of a fly. Appended with further reading and websites for children and a bibliography of sources. Bon appetit!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2PY15lso-I0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-  EPUB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4–8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 8.5\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

13 Ways to Eat a Fly

By: Sue Heavenrich / Illustrated by: David Clark

Thirteen flies become tasty snacks in this clever reverse counting book about subtraction, predators, and prey.

Science meets subtraction in this fresh and funny STEM picture book with plenty of ewww factor to please young readers. A swarm of thirteen flies buzzes along, losing one member to each predator along the way. Whether the unfortunate insects are zapped or wrapped, liquefied or zombified, the science is real—thrillingly chilling and laugh-out-loud gross. Includes a guide to eating bugs, complete with nutritional information for a single serving of flies.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Sue Heavenrich, author

Sue Heavenrich has eaten flies—small ones, and mostly by accident. She has also done research on ants, bees, and spiders and taught cockroaches how to run mazes. After earning her MS in biology and teaching high-school science, Sue began writing about science and nature in magazines, newspapers, and blogs. She is the author of several books, including Diet for a Changing Planet: Food for Thought, a book for teens about how to save the world by eating bugs, weeds, and invasive species.

Read more about Sue.

David Clark, illustrator

David Clark is the illustrator of many books for children, including Never Insult a Killer Zucchini, What's for Dinner? Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World and the Just Like Us! series. He is also the illustrator and co-creator of the syndicated comic strip Barney & Clyde.

Read more about David.

  • Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year 2022

Booklist, starred review

Guess who’s coming to dinner? Well stocked with easy-to-digest facts, from nature notes (“The frog closes its eyes and swallows, using its eyeballs to push the fly down its throat”) to the taxonomic names of the 13 different kinds of flies that Clark renders with distinguishing details (and deservedly anxious expressions) in his cartoon illustrations, this disquisition on flies as food will draw swarms of young readers. Following a countdown entrée in which the said baker’s dozen are, one by one, gobbled up by predators ranging from birds, bats, and a fly-eating fungus to an unwary skateboarder (gross but, claims Heavenrich, “harmless”), subsequent courses dish up observations on the insect’s importance as a food source, its real potential as a food additive, its nutritional content (with a table modeled after the one printed on cereal boxes), and a labeled chart of fly body parts, from the “soft and chewy” abdomen to antennae (“high in fiber”). Budding STEM-winders especially will relish meaty closing lists of print and web resources. Amplify the buzz by pairing this biological bounty with Brigit Heos’ introduction to another segment of the life cycle, What to Expect When You’re Expecting Larvae, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch.

School Library Journal

Thirteen short, rhyming answers are given to this question: How do birds, fish, mammals, and insects capture and eat flies? Some of these feeding methods are described as “zapped,” “wrapped,” and “underground.” Each of these tactics is explained in a descriptive paragraph of two or three sentences that centers on a specific animal and how it eats flies. For example, a garden spider captures a fly in its web, injects its prey with poison, and then wraps it in silk so that it resembles a burrito. Each paragraph is accompanied by a large illustration or two. These colorful illustrations are clear, but often humorously exaggerated. The text concludes that flies are a major food source for many animals. Educators could use this book for multiple lessons. The rhyming “ways” to eat a fly could be adopted for choral reading, with some of the factual information also included. Children could discuss how different animals capture and eat flies as food. VERDICT A lighthearted nonfiction picture book that could easily be used with young children in different ways.

Kirkus Reviews

Counting insect corpses has never been so much fun. Thirteen species of flies and gnats meet their untimely demises as they’re devoured by amphibians, fish, birds, plants, other insects, and more. The structure of the book is deceptively simple: Each doomed insect is described by a single participle (which rhymes with the participle that describes the next) along with a comical cartoon of each fly’s passing. As each fly bites the dust, a small note identifies the species by its common and scientific names. The plot becomes more sophisticated with a brief paragraph that explains how and why each fly was eaten. As there are 13 flies, the final death doesn’t have a rhyme, but it discusses flies as food for humans (with the assumption that readers do not belong to cultures that currently include insects in their diets) and how food scientists may be looking toward the insect world for alternate protein sources. The format allows readers across different age ranges to enjoy the book either for the simple rhymes (and visual zest) or for the intriguing study of the food web. A select bibliography includes books, websites, and news stories that will entice curious readers looking to learn more. Fans of Ants Don’t Wear Pants! and Kevin McCloskey’s other graphic novels will appreciate the illustrations and humor of this unusual counting book. Fly out and buy it.

The Horn Book

There are 120,000 different kinds of flies, all of which have predators ready to devour them. But before the flies go down the hatch, they have to be caught, and that's the focus of this humorous and informative look at food preparation on the fly. The book does a countdown of thirteen different methods: frogs use their tongues to zap them; crab spiders snatch them with their long front legs; garden spiders employ a two-step process, first killing flies with venom and then wrapping them up "like a burrito." Trout wait until baby flies, or midges, hatch just above the water's surface and then simply leap and gulp. Clark's bright, digitally colored creatures, with exaggerated facial expressions, set the tone; visual humor abounds, including the recurring lineup of different species of fly that decreases by one as the countdown progresses. A witty text culminates with equally amusing back matter, from a food label listing nutritional information (one serving: 65-80 flies, "depending on species") that accompanies a tongue-in-cheek guide to fine fly dining, to a diagram labeling the edible parts of a fly. Appended with further reading and websites for children and a bibliography of sources. Bon appetit!

Hardcover
ISBN:

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-  EPUB

Ages: 4–8
Page count: 32
11 x 8.5