Lewis Trondheim's The Fly
Once/Now/Then/After Series
on Goodreads (329)
What’s inside...
World-renowned artist Lewis Trondheim's wordless classic THE FLY is available for the first time in the US! One of the world's greatest cartoonists, Lewis Trondheim, tells the exciting life story of a common housefly. From the fly's birth to his inevitable end, we see everything this creature goes through simply to survive, from the fly's perspective. We guarantee you've never looked at your kitchen the way the fly does. While there's plenty of humor, there are thrills and chills as well, especially when the fly meets a spider. You may never have liked flies before, but once you meet this little guy, you may be surprised how much you can like a fly.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-12
Length
112 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the fly feels when it keeps facing challenges? Can you relate to any of its feelings?
What are some creative solutions the fly comes up with to solve its problems? Have you ever solved a problem in a unique way?
Why do you think the fly never gives up? What can we learn from the fly’s persistence?
How does the fly interact with other characters in the story? What does that teach us about dealing with others?
If you were the fly, what would you have done differently in the story? Why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in the shoes of the fly, fostering empathy and creativity. Ask them to imagine alternative endings or solutions to the fly's predicaments, enhancing their problem-solving skills. Discuss the fly’s persistence, highlighting the value of resilience and perseverance. Use the interactions between the fly and other characters to teach lessons about relationships and communicating with others effectively.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The protagonist, a small fly, learns to deal with daily challenges and obstacles, teaching the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by taking charge of small duties at home or school, understanding that their actions have consequences.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Despite many setbacks, the fly shows determination and does not give up. This highlights the virtue of resilience.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to persevere through their own challenges, whether it be in learning a new skill or dealing with a tough situation at school.
Example Lesson: Innovation and problem-solving
Explanation: The fly often comes up with creative solutions to escape from tricky situations, demonstrating the importance of thinking outside the box.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think creatively when faced with problems, promoting innovative thinking in everyday tasks and challenges.
Example Lesson: Humor as a coping mechanism
Explanation: The book's light-hearted tone and the fly's humorous approaches to problems show how humor can be an effective way to deal with difficulties.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to use humor to relieve stress in difficult times, helping them to maintain a positive outlook.