Talk to the Tail by Jeanne Willis

Talk to the Tail by Jeanne Willis

Big Cat for Little Wandle Fluency has been developed in collaboration with Wandle Learning Trust and Little Sutton Primary School. It consists of a range of chapter books with increasing word counts across 10 fluency levels aimed at children in Year 2 and 3. Each book builds reading confidence, stamina and speed and nurtures a love for reading.

Fluency 1 books have a word count of 2880 words with an expected reading rate of 60 words per minute.

What if animals could talk? Charlie and his assistance dog visit the zoo and learn about all the wonderful ways that animals and insects communicate in this exciting non-fiction book. From buzzing bees to roaring tigers, it's time to start chatting!

I chose animal communication as the theme for my story because I’m always channelling my inner-Dr Doolittle to try and understand what the various creatures in my care are trying to tell me. Even beetles have a lot to say and by studying their body language and behaviour, I’ve learnt to tell when they’re hungry, too hot or too cold for example, but what really goes on in their heads? A lot more than we imagine, I suspect. Marine biologists now believe that octopuses dream but what do they dream about? Like Charlie in Talk to the Tail, I’d really like to know!