How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom

by Steve Jenkins, Robin Page

"A highly enjoyable mix of science and humor." —Publishers Weekly, starred review Escape into the animal kingdom in this visually stunning and clever nonfiction book about animal behavior by Caldecott Honor-winning duo Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. In the latest eye-catching dive into the kingdom of Animalia, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page reveal the skills animals use to survive in the wild in an imaginative and humorous how-to format. With step-by-step instructions, readers learn about specific behaviors; how to catch thousands of fish like a humpback whale or how to sew up a nest like a tailorbird. This fascinating and fun illustrated nonfiction melds science, art, biology, and the environment together in a detailed and well-researched book about animals who live and survive in our world today.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Nature, Childrens, How To

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Steve was born in 1952 in Hickory, North Carolina. His father, who would become a physics professor and astronomer (and recently his co-author on a book about the Solar System), was in the military and, later, working on science degrees at several different universities. We moved often. Steve lived in North Carolina, Panama, Virginia, Kansas, and Colorado. Wherever he lived, he kept a menagerie of lizards, turtles, spiders, and other animals, collected rocks and fossils, and blew things up in his small chemistry lab.

Because he moved often, Steve didn't have a large group of friends, and he spent a lot of time with books. His parents read to him until he could read himself, and he became an obsessive reader.

His interest in science led me to believe that I'd be a scientist himself. At the last minute, he chose instead to go to art school in North Carolina, where he studied graphic design. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he worked in advertising and design, first in large firms and then with his wife, Robin Page, in their own small graphic design firm. Robin, also an author and illustrator, is his frequent collaborator — they've made sixteen children's books together.

Their daughter Page was born in 1986 and our son, Alec, two years later. They began reading to them when they were just a few months old, and Steve became interested in making children's books himself. My wife and I read to our two older children almost every night until hisdaughter was 12 or 13, long after they were reading on their own. It was, in many ways, the best part of the day.

In 1994 they moved to from New York City to Boulder, Colorado, where they work in a studio attached to their house, which was built in the 1880s and often functions as if it were still the 19th century.

Their youngest son, Jamie, was born in 1998. The questions his children asked over the years have been the inspiration for many of their books.

Librarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fascinating, eye-catching look at the animal kingdom from Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, this time looking at the skills animals use to survive in the wild in an imaginative and humorous how-to format.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! But now I can't wait to see kids perform this as Readers Theater. Wouldn't that be great

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A how-to book featuring animals around the world breaking down the steps to their unique practices.

I LOVE the writing! The presentation of information is very appealing and the information is high interest making this a book readers of all ages will find hard to put down.

Torn/cut paper collage illustrations are stunning.

Must see/read; maybe my favorite book by this team to date.

PreK-3+.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautifully detailed book by this husband and wife team. I am glad they saved the snake swallowing the pig steps until the last page. Truthfully, that is the one series of illustrations I could have done without.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic like all Page/Jenkins titles and what a mentor text!

[Ashley Greene]

Haven’t you ever wondered how to farm like a leaf-cutter ant? Or dance like a grebe? How about catch a meal like a crocodile? I know you’ve wondered how to woo a ewe like a mountain sheep. Well, grab some friends because Steve Jenkins and Robin Page tell you how in their fascinating informational book: How to Swallow a Pig (like a python that is). Jenkins and Page artfully blend information and nature-based fun in this step-by-step how-to guide. They add in helpful tips, such as “If you want to make a paper wasp nest, get ready to do a lot of chewing” and “be sure to share your millipede with any monkeys that don’t have their own.” It is chock-full of practical survival skills – imitating ways of defending oneself like an armadillo and using a bubble net to catch fish. Who doesn’t want to do that?! Above all, the book reminds us that practice makes perfect. The book covers 18 different animals and gives a short overview with additional intriguing facts of each animal in the back of the book.

Steve Jenkins and Robin Page are Caldecott Honor-winners. They have written and illustrated numerous informational books about animals, and each one is beautiful and interesting. This book is a wonderful launching point for animal science. I would recommend this book as a read aloud for grades K-3. Because there are so many animals, and the book is a step-by-step guide, there are easy entry points into the book - one could pick up the book and start on just about any page. Starting with the title and asking kids, ‘So, how DO you swallow a pig?’ is a great hook to get curious kids on the edge of their seats. After reading the book, a fun activity would be to break kids into groups and have them act out one of the step-by-step guides, and then have them explore more WHY questions in a rich discussion (such as, “Why does the armadillo need to protect itself? What predators are after them?”). The book could also be used as a research-writing project, where after reading the book students research an animal and write their own how-to step-by-step guide. Who wouldn’t want to know how to pollinate a flower like a bee?!? Be sure that if you pick up this book, you also have a kid nearby – because you’re going to want to share it with a child immediately.

[Stephen McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘How to Swallow A Pig’ is an engaging, funny, and highly informative piece of informative/nonfiction. Author/Illustrators, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page team up to create a text that teaches children highly informative “survival” skills in the shape of various animals. Want to learn how to spin a web like a spider? Want to know how warn off danger like a Vervet monkey? ‘How To’ does just that—giving a detailed, enumerated list of step-by-step instructions. The book is effective for three reasons. One—the layout is simple and easy to navigate visually; every single “how to” is followed by a list of easy to follow steps. Two—the writing is informative, yet engaging; by teaching kids these “survival” strategies, the book is also teaching them about animals and some of the quirky skills/talents that they possess. Three—the illustrations are really well done; every “how to” comes not only with a list of steps, but also colorful illustrations that coincide with each step. My favorite “how to” is how to dance like a grebe: it discusses how male grebes offer females gifts such as weeds and how grebes imitate each other’s gestures. At the end, grebes position themselves side-by-side and start paddling their feet as hard as they can, which ultimately propels them out of the water.

I would list this text at K-3 for read aloud. The word selection, content, and layout pertain more to the lower grades at the elementary level. In my experience, young children love to learn about animals—tying this text, across the discipline, into a science lesson would be a fantastic way of teaching students not only about quirky animal traits, but also about making lists and describing step-by-step instructions. Hypothetically, a teacher could have his/her children read this text and then create their own step-by-step instruction relating to something that they know how to do!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch non-fiction picture Book.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything Steve Jenkins touches is going to be great to look at - the guy makes his own paper and then cuts and tears it into shapes so he can make fabulous, textured collages of plants and animals from near and far. He frequently works with his wife Robin Page, whose humor and ability to explain natural phenomena are real assets. So in this book you'll get step-by-step instructions on how to catch fish with bubbles (helps if you are an aquatic mammal with a tail), spin a web, and, of course, detach your jaw so that you can swallow a whole pig.

I was reading this at work and left it lying on a counter at the reference desk. Half an hour later, the librarian who relieved me on the desk approaches brandishing the book. "Have you SEEN this? This book is fantastic!" So don't take my word for it, listen to young Bryon.

All my picks for best books to give this holiday are at http://www.unadulterated.us/pink-me/2...

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually count picture book style books toward my yearly reading goal, but this was a booktalk book, so it gets to be an exception because I had to spend so much time with it :) This is really very clever -- as pretty much everything created by Steve Jenkins tends to be. Kids love animals, and this is a very fun way of exploring unusual animal behavior. Written like a how-to book with the trademark paper cut collage style illustrations used by this duo, this book explores how spiders spin their webs, how crows crack open nuts, and of course how a snake could possibly swallow a pig. It was fun to booktalk, 'cause I treated it like a normal how-to book until the directions just seemed too ridiculous for a human being to follow. Cute, fun, well done.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This personalizes (using 2nd person voice) the different clever abilities and techniques different animals use to survive and thrive by inviting children to try it themselves with step-by-step directions. Helpful illustrations show each step, though some steps are somewhat difficult for humans (eg, "unhinge your jaw", or "bang your head against your rival"). Ends with a page giving more details about each featured animal. Younger readers can read the first sentence in bold of each step while using clues from the pictures, more accomplished readers can read the expanded explanations: grades 1-5.

[Connie T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to learn how to repel insects like a capuchin or dance like a grebe, or maybe you're just curious about the survival skills of different animals, this book is for you. How tos are presented much like a flow chart with short blocks of, sometimes humorous, text punctuated with plenty of torn- and cut-paper collage illustrations. More in depth description of each animal is provided in the back of the book.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenkins and Page are gems in the world of nonfiction children's books. A "how-to" guide with step by step actions to act like animals in the natural world. From debugging fur to swallowing a pig whole to spinning a spider web. Fun and accessible for kids.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of my favorite nonfiction picture books of 2015!

Providing "advice" on how to do things like animals do, readers will laugh their way through the book and learn fascinating animal skills and behaviors. Additional information about the animals featured can be found in the end.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction text structure: how-to.

Brilliant.

[Kris Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book Ben and I read this year. All sorts of animals eating things, step-by-step. Very helpful! : )

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic title by Jenkins and Page!

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun and fascinating offering by a tried and true team. Love the information, love the collage illustrations, love the back matter.

[Erin Ottavianelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "How to Swallow a Pig" by Steven Jenkins is a nonfiction book that teaches readers how so many different animals do some of the unique things they do to help them survive. It gives step by step instructions on how to do these given tasks and includes so many beautiful drawings throughout. Readers can learn how to... "trap fish like a hunchback whale", "crack a nut like a crow", decorate like a bowerbird", of course "swallow a pig" and so many things in between. There were so many new things that I learned how to do and some that I did not even know animals knew how to do. This book made me realize that animals truly are amazing and there are so many unique things they can do that we may not have even known about.

I would love to incorporate this book as a read aloud book in a Kindergarten-3rd grade classroom. It would work great as a read aloud for these ages because it breaks up the things that animals do in easy to understand steps, has so many beautifully detailed illustrations and is a great and easy way to incorporate some science content into the classroom. Unfortunately, so oftentimes science is forgotten about in elementary school especially in the lower grades so anyway that it could be incorporated into the classroom is better than nothing. This book also allows for so many great activities to be implemented into the classroom. The first activity that I would like to do with this book is for students to pick an animal that was not mentioned in the book and research something they do as that animal. From there the students will have to write a "How To:" on the activity that their animal does. Their "How To:" would have to be descriptive, written in steps and include pictures for each step. Another great activity that could be incorporated with this book is to have an EL fishbowl for students to participate in Reader's Theatre. Students could be put in groups and assigned a certain part of "How to Swallow a Pig" that they have to read dramatically while other group members act out certain sections. Since it is a fishbowl style, the students watching can provide each group with feedback such as what they did well or what they learned from their "performance". I think students would enjoy both of these activities and this book would be a great way to bring some science into the classroom through a read aloud.

[Hannah Colaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Swallow a Pig is an informational nonfiction picture book about how to do different things like different animals. Steven Jenkins writes about the variety of talents that so many animals have. Some of the activities that Jenkins gives step-by-step include “how to trap fish like a humpback whale”, “how to woo a ewe like a mountain sheep”, “how to disguise yourself like an octopus”, and of course “how to swallow a pig like a python”. This book teaches readers about animals and the science of different behaviors. The illustrations are intriguing and showcase the beauty of all the animals. There is even a glossary in the back that gives more facts about all the animals mentioned in the book, 18 total.

I would 100% recommend this book to elementary school students. This book does a great job at teaching science to kids and getting them excited about animals. There are a ton of different activities that can stem from this book. I would use it to teach my students about adaptations through different lessons. I would use a reader's theater and have students act out an animal and behavior in a dramatic way. I could also tie in math by having students create an array that has a certain area in order to fit an animal of their choosing. I would tell them the area of the environment and give them a list of 3 animals with a specific “area” and they have to be sure that animal fits in their array with items that will help them camouflage. This book would be perfect in the classroom, especially with younger students. Students can get creative and have a ton of fun all while engaging with reading and science learning.

[Emily Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How to Swallow a Pig" is the perfect informational book for any 3-5 classroom! Steve Jenkins teaches kids about the different skills, traits, and behaviors of animals in such a fun and creative way! There are so many ways this book could be implemented into the classroom. One idea is to have students choose an animal that was not in the book to research about. Once they have completed their research, they will write a blurb about that animal in the same unique "how to" format that Steve Jenkins used in his book. This is fun way to integrate science with reading and writing curriculum. Students have the opportunity to practice research skills and writing with style. Another idea for implementation is a reader's theater activity. Each student will pick an animal in the book and create a skit or pantomime that acts out that animal. Students will have to guess which animal they are acting out. This is a fun and creative way to engage students with the story. It also incorporates fluency practice with opportunities for repeated reading!

This was easily a WOW book for me! The title alone hooks the reader. I love how Jenkins wrote it in a "step by step" format. It makes the reading fun and engaging for students. I also really enjoyed the illustrations along with the steps. Jenkins reminds us that learning can and should be fun!

[Ramon Requena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an instructional book that teaches the reader how to do things that animals do in the wild, this being a eating, spinning a web, etc. This book is comical with the teachings it has, as it is self-aware while it keeps the topics professional.
The media of the book is paint that is blended very well as it can appear to even be colored pencil. The art is straightforward while still being photo-realistic. It does not need to be of a cartoon feeling and it is good that it is isn't as it would have taken away from the tone of the book.
The book is very entertaining to read and, personally, very refreshing as it gives off a meta feeling while being as educational as it can be. This book can be a whole lesson on itself, a class can read some of the lessons in this book and then create their own instructions on how to do something an animal would with slight library research.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Actual Star Rating: 3.5***

This was a nice quick read, which introduces readers to technical writing as each animal provided gives step-by-step instructions on how to complete a species specific action such as the humpback's bubble net, the defense mechanisms of the mimic octopus and so much more.

The instructions themselves are detailed but given in such a style where they are easy to understand for young readers. And each instruction is also followed by a brightly colored picture that allows the reader to have a partial diagram of how such a step is completed.

Reading of the book itself can be a bit dry and some readers may struggle with keeping interested in the material. Otherwise those who like animals may most definitely enjoy the story or it can be read one species a night while having children act out the different steps to help make the reading more interactive.

[Esther Westfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very creative way to explain to kids some of the different processes that animals use to accomplish various things at a level that makes it easy for them to understand. My 6 year old loved it! He couldn't believe how smart the crow was and said that he wanted to be one! After a while, my four year old started to tune out some of the stories unless they were about an animal that he found particularly interesting. It's not really the best book to read aloud, but we made it through it and they liked it and learned a lot of new things at the same time. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

[James Potts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. It was very informative but I did not like it. It shows readers how animals gather food and eat it. It was interesting book to read but I would not recommend it. I could not think of any project to relate this story to. I found it somewhat confusing. It would be a good read for a student that enjoys learning about animals. The illustrations were very well drawn out and out together. I did like that in the back of the book there was resources for readers to get more information on the animals and websites readers to go on for more information.

[Devon Norman]

I thought this book was really interesting and loved the step by step processes that different animals used to survive. My favorite part was about the crow and how they use cars to help crack open nuts for food. i think this book would be very neat to read during a unit on animals and the different traits they possess. I think this book would be good to use in a 3rd or 4th grade classroom because some of the vocabulary is challenging for younger students. I also thought the illustrations in the book were very neat and detailed.

[Alexandra Litton · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom by Steve Jenkins is a comical yet captivating guide to animal behaviors. Featuring step-by-step instructions and engaging illustrations, young readers are better able to understand the animal world through learning fascinating skills from nature such as mimicking a predator and nest building. Jenkins' work is perfect for curious children as the book's combination of science and amusement offers readers a new perspective on wild animals and the survival strategies they implement.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book moves well and keeps the eye entertained. Each page or two spread features step by step guides to how different animals accomplish tasks in their lives from eating, to mating to nest building. was fun and moved. the ending features more non fiction facts about each animal but isn't weighed done at two and a half pages. elementary and up.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book the reader finds simple step-by-step instructions on how to ... swallow a pig like a python does, or build a dam like a beaver does, or catch a meal like a crocodile does. Amusing and factual, this book is full of wonderful illustrations and information with extra on the last three pages.

[TaNazia Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book much, the title is How to Swallow a Pig but it shows step by step for different animals and unusual things to do. Opening this book I was not expecting it to look like this or to be written that way. This is not a book I would read to my kids, I don't feel they would be interested in this. I feel like this book is for older kids and not younger children.