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Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails: An Interactive Book About Barnyard Animals for Kids
What has spots? A cow has spots. What has feathers? A chicken has feathers. Nancy Tafuri, a Caldecott Honor artist and the award-winning creator of many books for young children, including Have You Seen My Duckling? , knows just what questions preschoolers will love to hear—and answer! This barnyard tour will have its audience crowing with delight (and discovering interesting information about animals) as they study the big, bold paintings of the animals and birds. "An ideal book for the beginning reader to entertain a younger sibling in a game they'll both enjoy. A natural for toddler story-hour collections."— The Horn Book Supports the Common Core State Standards
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 1988
4 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Tafuri
67 books56 followersNancy Tafuri is probably best known as the creator of Have You Seen My Duckling?, a 1985 Caldecott Honor Book described by Parent’s Choice as “beautifully precise yet emotionally affecting.” Trained as a graphic designer, Tafuri has authored more than 45 books over 30 years for the very young.
When Tafuri first attempted picture book illustration in the late 1970’s picture books were aimed at five-, six-, and seven-year-olds. Tafuri’s images were considered “too graphic” for children that age. “The pictures are too big,” she was told over and over about the large, colorful shapes she drew. Finally, Tafuri’s talent was recognized and tapped at Greenwillow Books, Harper Collins Publishers.
Since then she has had the opportunity to work with Scholastic Press, Scholastic Inc., Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and most recently Little, Brown Books For Young Readers, Little, Brown and Company.
Tafuri was born in Brooklyn, New York. For the first ten years of her life she was an only child and says that this helped her to learn to entertain herself with stories and art.
Tafuri entered the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1964. Her first job was as an assistant art director for the publishing firm Simon & Schuster. She left two years later and married Thomas Tafuri, a fellow student at the School of Visual Arts.
The Tafuri’s opened their own graphic design studio, in 1971. Their primary product was dust jackets for hardcover books. They opened their business in New York City, but eventually moved their studio and home to Connecticut.
At this time, Nancy was able to devote all of her time to writing and illustration.
When Tafuri finally found herself illustrating children’s books, either her own or other authors’, she felt she had found her life’s calling and a strong sense of joy from creating them. She loves to take a small portion of the text and create a visual representation that children can grasp and remember. In 1989, when Cristina was born, Nancy began to feel even more strongly motivated to illustrate for children. Her work seemed even more important and more personal.
“I feel honored to be creating literature for young children. Seeing how very important the early years are in a person’s life, I can only hope that my books can contribute in some small way to that growth, with the feelings that I hope I project within those pages, through line, color, shape, and story.”
When Tafuri first attempted picture book illustration in the late 1970’s picture books were aimed at five-, six-, and seven-year-olds. Tafuri’s images were considered “too graphic” for children that age. “The pictures are too big,” she was told over and over about the large, colorful shapes she drew. Finally, Tafuri’s talent was recognized and tapped at Greenwillow Books, Harper Collins Publishers.
Since then she has had the opportunity to work with Scholastic Press, Scholastic Inc., Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division and most recently Little, Brown Books For Young Readers, Little, Brown and Company.
Tafuri was born in Brooklyn, New York. For the first ten years of her life she was an only child and says that this helped her to learn to entertain herself with stories and art.
Tafuri entered the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1964. Her first job was as an assistant art director for the publishing firm Simon & Schuster. She left two years later and married Thomas Tafuri, a fellow student at the School of Visual Arts.
The Tafuri’s opened their own graphic design studio, in 1971. Their primary product was dust jackets for hardcover books. They opened their business in New York City, but eventually moved their studio and home to Connecticut.
At this time, Nancy was able to devote all of her time to writing and illustration.
When Tafuri finally found herself illustrating children’s books, either her own or other authors’, she felt she had found her life’s calling and a strong sense of joy from creating them. She loves to take a small portion of the text and create a visual representation that children can grasp and remember. In 1989, when Cristina was born, Nancy began to feel even more strongly motivated to illustrate for children. Her work seemed even more important and more personal.
“I feel honored to be creating literature for young children. Seeing how very important the early years are in a person’s life, I can only hope that my books can contribute in some small way to that growth, with the feelings that I hope I project within those pages, through line, color, shape, and story.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 17, 2014
An adorable book on animals and identifying them. Today's storytime was about animals and animal sounds, and this book was an adorable tie-in, perfect for the little ones in it's simplicity and bright, bold illustrations. Covers many of the familiar animals found on the farm, including the farm itself. Each animal is introduced individually, giving a chance for young ones to associate with the animal, and gives the parent time to describe the animal without unnecessary text.
November 14, 2018
Baby storytime 11/14
December 4, 2014
This is a simple picture book with text that follows a question and answer pattern. This would be a good title for story time, especially for the younger students such as kindergartners in a group setting. The illustration with each question page shows the back half of the animal that the question is refering to and serves as a visual cue for the viewers and/or readers. If you wanted to, you could make this an audience participation type reading where the audience yells out their guess before you turn the page. This could be a great fun read aloud for kindergarten students or first grade students who enjoy animals and prediction. This is a good book for students who are learning to read as well. The words and pictures are put together beautifully and are very kid-friendly. Students that have read this book with me before in practicum really enjoy figuring out the animals before they actually turn the page to see the animal that is being described. Well done!
July 17, 2016
This is what I refer to as a 2-second book. Because it takes about that long to read. Don't get me wrong, I have a great appreciation for this sort of book. I often pair them with a book that's a little long for my kiddos so that the overall story block isn't too long for them. I like the "What has this distinguishing feature?" element to the book. My only complaint was that the ending just didn't work. It fell totally flat. Not sure why, but it wasn't right. Still, I'd use it for storytime and maybe just change the ending a little. We'll see...
January 6, 2012
A simple picture book with text that follows a question and answer pattern. This would be a good title for storytime, especially for the younger crowds consisting of babies and toddlers, or in a family storytime setting. The illustration facing each question page features the back half of the animal that the question refers to and serves as a visual cue if you wanted to make this an audience participation-type reading where the audience yells out their guess before you turn the page. Well done!
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December 6, 2015This book would be fantastic for those young and eager readers. Set up as ask a question and followed by the answer, it creates a factual, yet predictable storyline for kids. The illustrations are fantastic, showing only a part of the animal that would, perhaps, have feathers or spots. The next page would then show the answer, as well as having it written in a fun way. I really enjoyed the very intricate illustrations and fun way the author has portrayed such a simple reading.
May 18, 2017
A great book for toddlers, each page gives a hint at a farm animal with the next page revealing what animal it is. Perfect for toddlers who are in the farm animal loving phase and love to repeat each animals' sound. The final spread is the entire farm with all the animals, I think this was everyone's favorite part! I have to say, I am never disappointed with Nancy Tafuri's books, this one is definitely recommended!
September 18, 2013
I usually think of Tafuri as an author for the very young and even though this book is deceptively simple, I like to use it with a slightly older audience that can participate and answer the questions. This was a big hit in Story Time and enticed some of the children to come from the back of the room to up front.
July 29, 2017
L and I had fun with this book. On each page you see a part of the animal's body and are given a clue and then you have to guess the animal and turn the page to see if you are correct. At 2 1/2 my daughter found this relatively easy and was able to guess all of the animals except the bull. We still enjoyed playing the game, though. I always enjoy Tafuri's illustrations.
September 2, 2011
This is a good book for students who are learning to read. The words and pictures are put together beautifully. Children that have read this book with me really enjoy figuring out the animals before they actually turn the page to see the animal that is being described.
December 19, 2016
Read at Toddler Lap Time on 11/9/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 3/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Drop-In Story Time on 3/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
September 13, 2013
This is a great book for students who are learning to read. The predictability of this book makes it a great example of showing how readers make predictions and confirm. The kids will also love the farm animals.
September 14, 2013
This is a good book to help young students learn how to predict what might happen next. It ask you a question such as who has spots. With only part of the animal showing they can try to figure out what animal it might be.
December 5, 2016
This interactive title engaged both toddlers and caregivers during storytime as we guessed animals by different physical features. Animal sounds were incorporated: 1) "What animal says, 'Moo'?" or 2) "What sound does a duck make?"
January 3, 2018
A question about an animal, for example, "who has spots?", followed by the answer. All the animals are recognizable and easy to guess. Easy to use with bilingual groups as well - the kids are happy to provide the names in multiple languages.
March 1, 2018
Themes: farm, animals, predictions
This book is loved by my 3 year old. He likes to predict the animal from the hint given. It's a short book so we also talk about each animal (i.e. the sound it makes, what it eats, the colors, etc)
Great story time read for all ages!
This book is loved by my 3 year old. He likes to predict the animal from the hint given. It's a short book so we also talk about each animal (i.e. the sound it makes, what it eats, the colors, etc)
Great story time read for all ages!
May 19, 2009
One of my favorites by Nancy Tafuri...so perfect for little ones that love to guess animals. Now my 5 year can read it to the 3 year old.
March 23, 2011
Very simple and cute book for little ones for animal association. Short and sweet to the point, so probably a good one for story time although on the older side.
July 26, 2011
Another solid Tafuri, this one gives children the fun of guessing the animals.
September 16, 2011
A classic picture book, and a wonderful, interactive choice for toddler storytime. The book shows a part of an animal, and the children guess what it is.
February 7, 2014
Super cute, VERY simple. Zack was actively involved with each page. It is simple enough and the font large enough that I see us coming back to this book as one of his first readers.
June 5, 2012
Clear illustrations and a guessing game about barnyard animals? Yes please!
October 18, 2012
Good book to provide to beginning readers because they are able to easily predict words that they may not know.
February 14, 2013
A sweet short about farm animals - interactive with questions like "Who has spots". Great for your tiny listeners.
March 5, 2013
This book's use of white space and large print is great for young readers developing print awareness and site words.
April 24, 2013
The kids could guess what animals have spots, etc. And I added the animal noises, too. Fun, short book.
September 13, 2013
Good book to introduce prediction because most children have some sort of schema that includes farm animals.
May 3, 2014
This would be a great book for students that are just starting to read on their own. Also, I would use this book when working with students on predictability.
February 4, 2014
I think this is a must-have book! It has a cute story and it is excellent when teaching about predicting!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews