Why Like Flies? by Carol Haden
This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views Kids version here.
Flyboy wonders why flies have such a bad reputation in the world. He asks his mother for help first and she says she doesn’t know how to change the world but directs him to someone she thinks is wise to help him. Unfortunately, that mentor can’t help, and so Flyboy is directed to one creature after another in search of answers. Eventually, Flyboy’s quest leads him to Mother Nature who tells him all about the importance of balance in nature. Flyboy then gets a promotion to Director of Education for Planet Earth so he can teach the world how to appreciate and nurture the balance in nature.
The illustrations in Why Like Flies? by Carol Haden are wonderfully cartoonish. That is meant as a compliment as the style will clearly appeal to young readers. The colorful nature of the pages is sure to engage and delight. Furthermore, when the metaphor of a hot air balloon is used, the illustrations make it understandable even to very young readers.
Some rhymes appear throughout the book to open different sections. These are quite nice introductions, yet one can’t help but wonder if rhymes throughout would have made the prose sparkle even more. Still, the prose is sweet and flows quite nicely.
The overall message of balance in nature is vital. Nature indeed needs its variety of creatures, even the unloved and unsung ones, and this is a good message for kids to learn early. It is also a message that adults often need to be reminded of.
The final pages of Why Like Flies? are a bit unusual. They ask philosophical questions that do not feel in keeping with the rest of the book. Furthermore, some of these questions feel a tad dark for the intended age group.
However, overall Why Like Flies? is a picture book with an appealing art style and an important message for young readers. While more rhymes would have been welcome, and while the final section could use some editing in my opinion, Why Like Flies? is a great read for children.
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