Fly Guy vs. The Flyswatter by Tedd Arnold

from goodreads

4 stars

One thing I have noticed this year is that I don't have very many houseflies in my house. I don't know if it is because it was a cooler summer, or maybe my house isn't a very good environment for them, but, I am definitely noticing a distinct lack of buzzing.

Growing up I lived in a farmhouse that was over 100 years old. And every summer in the bedrooms upstairs we would get tons of houseflies. There were so many you could put your hand on the window and smush a bunch without much of an effort. We would usually take the vacuum cleaner to the windows and suck them up. There were just so many.

This year we do have a lot of fruit flies. We have our fruit fly traps which have been doing a pretty good job. But outside in our greenbin it is a fruit fly metropolis. I was putting some of our compostables into the greenbin and as soon as I lifted the lid it was a crazy swarm. I think three flew up my nose. Believe me that is not a pleasant sensation. But, I would rather them be outside then in my house. Just not outside the house and up my nose.

Synopsis

Fly Guy goes to school with Buzz. When they find out they are going on a school trip to a flyswatter factory, Fly Guy gets nervous, but then gets even.

My Thoughts

This is one of a series of Fly Guy books. I was introduced to them when my oldest daughter was in Junior Kindergarten and brought it home from the school library, or  maybe her teacher gave her one as a prize. It was three years ago so I don't really remember the details anymore. Needless to say she brought one home, we read it and thus began our love affair of the Fly Guy books.

This one is great because you see Fly Guy going from timid and scared, to brave and daring. He stands up for what he knows is right, rescues a little fly about to be swatted and shows everyone that technology has no place when it comes to flyswatters.

I love how the book is divided into chapters which gives changes of scenes and locations a seamless feel.

When I read these books I almost get a comic book feel without it having to actually be a comic book. The words are simple yet the stories compelling.

Judging by my kids these stories are perfect for a 5 to 7 year old age range. My oldest is in the middle of her seventh year and doesn't really read them anymore, or ask for them to be read. She will still listen to them if I am reading it to the middle child but she will not instigate it.

While this book would never be my first choice of stories to read my kids, I still like the adventure of it and the funniness of them and the kids enjoyment out of it. That's what reading picture books is all about.