Book Title: Fly Flies (available here)
Author: Ziggy Hanaor
Illustrator: Alice Bowsher
Publisher: Cicada
Publication Date: March 2019
Most Suitable For: KS1
Reviewed By: Rachel Caddick, Teacher & Book Blogger (@GetKidsin2Books)
It’s a lovely sunny day and Fly is having fun flying in the park. She likes to wibble and wobble and loop the loop. However, one animal after another criticises her flying style. Blackbird says she should be flying in a straight line, Stork suggests she should glide on the wind, Starling advises flying in a group and Hawk recommends diving and swooping. Fly tries each style in turn, but none suits her. They are not her way to fly. Confidently and enthusiastically, she returns to her own style.
I really liked the striking black and white images with the occasional pop of yellow. There’s also some lovely slapstick humour in the illustrations. My class and I laughed out loud when we were reading and we loved the twist at the end, too.
Throughout the book, repetition is used to great effect: repetition within the story structure itself and repetition in the story language. Children will quickly pick up on and join in with the refrains. The story has a strong message about staying true to oneself and not being swayed by others – it would make a brilliant discussion prompt for a PSHE lesson.
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You can order Fly Flies online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Review Panel member Rachel for reviewing it.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.
