Tails
By Matthew Van Fleet
Tails
Harcourt Children, 2003
Pages: 20
Suggested Ages: 1-6
ISBN-13: 0152167730


This rhyming, interactive, lift-the-flap, elongated board book introduces the Goodnight, Moon and Dear Zoo set to dozens of smiling animal parents and their little ones, all proudly displaying their singular tails. "Tails furry," it begins, and indeed, the tail of the tiger cub is rendered in black and orange striped fur for little fingers to stroke. "Tails spiny," the verse continues, and you'll note that the tiger is gingerly pawing the spiky spines of a porcupine. On the facing page struts a family of peacocks; the male's raised tail is long and green. "Tails rainbow-hued and-" Quick, lift the sturdy flap for the rhyming word "shiny." Oh, my! The peacock's tail is now fully open, with circles of crinkly blue shiny "eyes."

The next page contains a family gathering of raccoons, chipmunks, and foxes: "Tails stand up, Tails drag, Tails frisky-wag, wag, wag!" The happy gimmick on this page is the sturdy pull-tab that makes the foxes' tails wag to the left and right. Rendered in cartoon-like pen and ink and watercolors, the animals spill and tumble across each white page. Other families represented include familiar animals like panda, alligators, and pigs, and ones you might not even know, such as pangolins, weasels, and tamarins.

THEMES: ANIMALS. EASY READERS. STORIES IN RHYME.