Fiction - Animals, Children - Fiction & Literature

Hi! Fly Guy

Name: Hi! Fly Guy
Author: Tedd Arnold
ISBN: 9780439639033

by Tedd Arnold

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Overview

When Buzz captures a fly to enter in The Amazing Pet Show, his parents and the judges tell him that a fly cannot be a pet, but Fly Guy proves them wrong.

Synopsis

"A fly was flying. He was looking for something to eat. Something tasty. Something slimy. A boy was walking. He was looking for something to catch. Something smart. Something for The Amazing Pet Show."

The boy and fly meet and so begins a beautiful friendship. Er, and so begins a very funny friendship. Using hyperbole, puns, slapstick, and silly drawings, bestselling author/illustrator Tedd Arnold creates an easy reader that is full of fun.

NARRATED by Skip Hinnant

Author and artist Tedd Arnold was born in Elmira, NY on January 20, 1949. His family lived on a farm in Pennsylvania for several years before moving to Gainesville, Florida. There, Tedd began taking his first art lessons in an abandoned dentist’s office, which eventually led him to graduate with a B.F.A. from the University of Florida. He is married to Carol Clark, a teacher, and has two children. Carol introduced Tedd to the idea of writing and illustrating children’s books while he was working as a commercial illustrator. Tedd’s first son, Walter, inspired his breakthrough picture book, No Jumping on the Bed!, and his second son William its sequel, No Water in the Tub! Tedd has published more than 30 books, and in his spare time enjoys tennis, sketching, reading, coin collecting, and computers. He is currently living with his family in Elmira, NY, as a free-lance author and illustrator.

Publishers Weekly

A fly went flying," opens Arnold's (Parts) brief, playful tale, structured in three chapters. At the same time, "A boy went walking." The winged fellow is looking for food and the boy is searching for a critter for the upcoming Amazing Pet Show. The two equally and comically bug-eyed beings meet when the fly collides with the human hero's nose ("boink") and the lad captures it in a glass jar. After the infuriated insect stomps his foot and says, "Buzz!" the amazed boy replies, "You know my name! You are the smartest pet in the world!" Buzz shows his new pet, which he names Fly Guy, to his parents; his father announces that flies are pests and grabs a swatter-until the sly fly lands on Buzz's nose and calls him by name. In one of the book's funniest pictures, Fly Guy is dwarfed by the hot dog Buzz places in his jar, most of which he happily consumes. Though the pet show judges tell Buzz that flies don't qualify as pets, Fly Guy rises to the occasion and wows the judges with various feats, clinching the prize for smartest pet. Suitably wacky cartoon art accompanies the text, which is simple enough for beginning readers ready to soar to a chapter-book format. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

About the Author, Tedd Arnold

Tedd Arnold lives in Elmira, New York.

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Editorials

From the Publisher

PW HI! FLY GUY Author: Arnold, Tedd

Review Date: JULY 15, 2005
Publisher:Cartwheel/Scholastic Pages: 32
Price (hardback): $5.99
Publication Date: 9/1/2005 0:00:00
ISBN: 0-439-63903-4
ISBN (hardback): 0-439-63903-4
Category: CHILDREN'S Pest—or Pet? A fly changes some minds in this diminutive tale—first, by astounding the lad who captures him in a jar ("BUZZ!" "You know my name! You are the smartest pet in the world!"), then, thanks to some fancy flying, by convincing the lad's parents and ultimately even the judges of the Amazing Pet Show that he's more than just a nuisance. A pop-eyed, self-confident mite in Arnold's droll cartoon illustrations, Fly Guy's up to any challenge, whether it be eating a hot dog (well, most of it, anyway), or performing amazing aerial acrobatics; readers drawn by the flashy foil cover will stick around to applaud this unusually capable critter. Any similarity to Ezra Jack Keats's Pet Show! (1972) is surely coincidental. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Hi! Fly Guy Tedd Arnold. Scholastic/Cartwheel, $5.99 (32p) ISBN 0-439-63903-4
A fly went flying," opens Arnold's (Parts) brief, playful tale, structured in three chapters. At the same time, "A boy went walking." The winged fellow is looking for food and the boy is searching for a critter for the upcoming Amazing Pet Show. The two equally and comically bug-eyed beings meet when the fly collides with the human hero's nose ("boink") and the lad captures it in a glass jar. After the infuriated insect stomps his foot and says, "Buzz!" the amazed boy replies, "You know my name! You are the smartest pet in the world!" Buzz shows his new pet, which he names Fly Guy, to his parents; his father announces that flies are pests and grabs a swatter—until the sly fly lands on Buzz's nose and calls him by name. In one of the book's funniest pictures, Fly Guy is dwarfed by the hot dog Buzz places in his jar, most of which he happily consumes. Though the pet show judges tell Buzz that flies don't qualify as pets, Fly Guy rises to the occasion and wows the judges with various feats, clinching the prize for smartest pet. Suitably wacky cartoon art accompanies the text, which is simple enough for beginning readers ready to soar to a chapter-book format. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
BCCB A fly out flying encounters a boy out looking for a pet, and it's a match made in early-reader heaven
. The fly apparently knows the boy's name-Buzz-which endears the insect to his new master (and his skeptical parents). Buzz takes Fly Guy, as he's named his new pet, to the Amazing Pet Show, where clever Fly Guy wins over doubting judges with his ability to say his master's name and perform tricks
. The story ends pretty abruptly, but this is aimed squarely at an audience with only slightly more reading stamina than the common housefly anyway; the controlled vocabulary (with a few more challenging words thrown in) and frequent repetition add to the ease of access. The look is edgy
, especially the cover's motion-effect iridescent graphics, with the interior art sporting Arnold's trademark bulbous-eyed caricatures textured with hairy squiggles; Buzz, who has the stocky solidity of a trash can, is actually rather more taciturn than the hyper-expressive Fly Guy, whose antics steal the show. Novice readers, particularly those unmoved by cuddlier stories, will welcome the doriy wit of this oddball-pet saga. DS

SLJ ARNOLD, Tedd. Hi! Fly Guy! illus. by author. 30p. CIP. Scholastic/Cartwheel. 2005. Tr $5.99. ISBN 0-439-63903-4. LC 2004020553.
K-Gr 2A boy goes out searching for a smart animal to take to “The Amazing Pet Show” and bumps into a fly that is intelligent enough to say the child's name, “Buzz.” Although his parents and the jud

Children's Literature - Toni Jourdan

In three chapters we are introduced to both, Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy. They have an amazing relationship of trust and talent. Many would say that a fly cannot be a pet. In fact, when Buzz tries to enter his pet fly in the Amazing Pet Show, the judges try to disqualify him, saying that a fly is a pest not a pet. Buzz has heard this before from his father. Undaunted a friendship has begun and it cannot be denied that Fly Guy is incredibly smart, as well as talented. Seriously, how many flies can say the name of their human? Who is to say that a young boy cannot befriend a fly and who is to say that a fly can't enjoy the friendship of a young boy. This is a beginning book for a series of adventures between these two friends and a wonderful jumping off point for a story that is illustrated as big and fun. My favorite picture is when Buzz has captured Fly Guy in a jar and boy-o-boy, is Fly Guy mad—there are such great facial expressions for these two characters. An accompanying CD of the story being read by MacLeod Andrews brings the characters to life. Plus, you get the bonus fun of a Fly Guy song. An additional track has an interview with the writer, Tedd Arnold which explains how he got the idea for the story and how he got started in the world of children's books. It makes you think twice about shooing a fly out of the house, especially if your name is Buzz. Think of it this way, you do not have to ever change its litter box or take it for a walk. A fly just might be the perfect companion. Reviewer: Toni Jourdan

Publishers Weekly

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

Who says a fly cannot be a pet? Buzz knows better, and he sets out to prove it when he captures a fly for The Amazing Pet Show. At first, the fly was not too happy, but when Buzz's dad decides to dispatch him, the fly heads right for his buddy Buzz. He even gets a name—Fly Guy. The judges at the pet contest are just as incredulous, but Buzz and Fly Guy prove them wrong—even winning a prize! Arnold's amusing flight of fancy is illustrated with plenty of humor. Fly Guy and Buzz are both bug-eyed cartoon characters. Kids should enjoy this Level 1 early reader in the "Scholastic reader" series.

Children's Literature - Kathy Leggett

Fly Guy is looking for something to eat. A boy is looking for something to catch. Boy and fly collide, and a friendship begins. The boy's parents are sure that flies cannot be pets because they are pests. But this is not just any fly. This fly is so smart. He knows the boy's name: Buzz! Buzz convinces his parents that the fly can be his pet, and by the third chapter they are off to the amazing pet show. There, they are told again that flies are pests, not pets. With the help of Fly Guy, the judges are indeed amazed. It must be the smartest pet of a boy named Buzz. Written for developing readers, this level 2 book has only 250-750 words. It is an engaging, fun, silly story; it is the kind that will keep young listeners rolling with laughter and asking to hear it over and over again. Early readers will be aided with the large font, extra spacing and traditional print, and they will be excited by the early chapter book format. It is a book sure to fly right off the shelves. Fly Guy and Buzz will be around for years to come. Reviewer: Kathy Leggett

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-A boy goes out searching for a smart animal to take to "The Amazing Pet Show" and bumps into a fly that is intelligent enough to say the child's name, "Buzz." Although his parents and the judges feel at first that a fly is only a pest, not a pet, the insect puts on a performance that astounds them all and wins an award. The cartoon illustrations showing characters with exaggerated wide eyes are delightful, but the text is somewhat weak and disjointed.-Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Pest-or Pet? A fly changes some minds in this diminutive tale-first, by astounding the lad who captures him in a jar ("BUZZ!" "You know my name! You are the smartest pet in the world!"), then, thanks to some fancy flying, by convincing the lad's parents and ultimately even the judges of the Amazing Pet Show that he's more than just a nuisance. A pop-eyed, self-confident mite in Arnold's droll cartoon illustrations, Fly Guy's up to any challenge, whether it be eating a hot dog (well, most of it, anyway), or performing amazing aerial acrobatics; readers drawn by the flashy foil cover will stick around to applaud this unusually capable critter. Any similarity to Ezra Jack Keats's Pet Show! (1972) is surely coincidental. (Picture book. 6-8)