Zealande


 * A Fly went by **

A FLY WENT BY is an exciting story that moves very fast, making children want to find out what happens next. Four-and five-year-olds will enjoy having it read to them and older children will want to read it themselves. __ Who is the author and what other works have they created? __ Mike McClintock, the author of ‘A fly went by’ is an American author who has written many children books. His books all revolve around very simple and easy to read texts that are fun for children and their parents. Mike McClintock is renowned for his simplicity and rhyming throughout his novels. Other books published by Mike McClintock include ‘Stop that ball’ and ‘Follow that fly.’ Both of which follow the same concept of ‘A fly went by’ in which the text is very fast paced, simple and fun. Mike’s ranges of texts are very unique, from fun, easygoing children books, which can be seen through ‘A fly went by’ to his set on house building and home improvement, showing he clearly has a passion for both genres.
 * __ Blurb: __**
 * Introduction **
 * Context: **

__ What culture and historical period was this book written in? __ ‘A fly went by was published in 1961 by Random House Inc.. During the lead up to 1961 (around the time Mike McClintock actually wrote the book) many events were taking place around the world. The Chinese Civil war broke out and later did the first COD war between the United Kingdom and Iceland. Mike McClintock’s messages within the book may have been a reflection of these wars that were breaking out within the world, letting us know that we must not judge a book by its cover. In this instance, going to war with another country for no real reason or with a lack of knowledge. Bobby Fischer, a 14-year-old boy also won the chess championships in 1958. Mike McClintock was a big fan of chess, and perhaps used the innocence but intelligence of young Bobby Fischer and incorporated it into his text.

__ Why did you choose this book and what does it mean to you? __ As a child, my dad loved reading and buying books for us to read, in particular Dr. Seuss books. We have a whole collection of his books, and even looking back on the front covers of all the Dr. Seuss books it brings back so many memories of the first and second and third time I read them. But ‘A fly went by’ was one of the first Dr. Seuss books I received from my dad. The rhyming in this novel intrigued me and I thought was very funny and interesting. Whenever I saw a fly after reading this, it automatically reminded me of this book and how scared a fly really is. I loved the imagery in this book because it was so simple and I could relate to it because it was almost as if I had drawn it. It was just a very fun book that I loved to read as a child. __ What are the messages or meanings in the book? __ This book is a very easy, fun to read novel. The simplicity of animals chasing after one and other leaves no real room for messages or meanings within the text. The novel is there to be read almost exactly as you see it. But if you were to go into more depth there is a message that suggests that it is almost a first nature to assume before we know. The animals and even the human did not stop to ask why they were running; their first thought was that they were being chased for the worst. He has almost incorporated the saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ into his text, in which case the animals are all judging their appearances and thoughts of each other in a negative way. Perhaps Mike McClintock was also trying to give the message that children are very caring, portraying the young boy in his text as eager, adventurous and helpful as he tried to put a stop to the madness of the animals chasing each other.
 * Personal: **
 * Conclusion **
 * Meaning: **

__ What are the visual and language features and how do they work to create meaning? __ The visual features in this novel are very basic and simple. They almost look like a child has created them. They bring meaning into the book by bringing no meaning at all. Meaning that the book is so simple and straightforward that the images have not cluttered or interfered with the reading, but re also very straightforward and effortless. The language used in the novel was also very simple and easy to read. It really brought out the innocence of all the animals and the confusion of the little boy in context with Mike McClintock’s message ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ The message was very simple as was his text, to not take anything away from the story but to still allow us to make a understand that no matter how afraid or innocent you are, it’s not right to judge someone or their intentions before you get to know them.