So Rude!: An Interview with Author Jessica Fries-Gaither

Humans have rules for how to behave, but sometimes animals need to break those rules to survive. So Rude!: Animals Behaving Badly introduces seven human behavior rules and the animals that break them! Scarlet kingsnakes lie; they pretend to be venomous coral snakes to scare off predators. And hippos make a mess; they spray waste to defend their territories. 

Today author Jessica Fries-Gaither joins us to share why she writes about animals, how she chose the creatures she featured, and her biggest pet peeve.

Why write about animal behaviors?

Understanding animal behaviors is tricky. We love to give other animals human thoughts and emotions, and while we are learning more and more about animals every day, we can’t be sure that they all feel and experience things in the same way we do. Additionally, many of the behaviors described in the book help animals reproduce and survive. It’s not a matter of manners, it’s a matter of life and death.

How did you choose the animals you featured?

I started by brainstorming examples of bad manners: lying, cheating, stealing, and so on. Then I tried to come up with several examples of animals whose behavior fit into those categories, and did a lot of research to find more. I had some very interesting internet searches while working on this one!

Were there any animals that didn’t end up in the final manuscript?

Yes! Two animals that didn’t make the cut during the editing process were herrings and rats.

Herrings toot to keep in touch. They have great hearing compared to other fish and make a wide variety of noises. The fish often release bubbles from their behinds when scared or when they are moving up or down in the water. The farts may be a way for them to communicate with each other in the dark.

Rats chirp with their mouths full. They are one of a few animals that produce ultrasonic vocalizations, or sounds that cannot be heard by humans. They do this to communicate with one another while eating and during other positive experiences.

While both are rude behaviors, we ended up deciding that other examples were more compelling.

In your opinion, which animal from the book is the rudest?

Many of the animals in the book have pretty bad behavior, but the parasitic creatures are at the top of my list. The tongue-eating louse, braconid wasp, and warble fly are rude, disgusting, and honestly, the stuff of nightmares.

Which rude behavior (in people) is your pet peeve?

I can’t say that I enjoy any rude behaviors! But as a teacher, I’d say that being interrupted while I’m talking probably happens the most—and I don’t like it.

Praise for So Rude!

★”This narrative nonfiction is well-suited to very young readers because of its succinct and direct storytelling structure, large photographs, and intriguing design. . . Succinct text, audacious facts, and vibrant imagery make this nonfiction text a good selection for preschoolers with an interest in animal adaptations.”—starred, School Library Journal

“Gleeful fun, with generous doses of both fact and attitude.”—Kirkus Reviews

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Jessica Fries-Gaither is an experienced science educator and an award-winning author of books for students and teachers. Her 20-plus year teaching career spans elementary school through middle school science and math, three states, and Catholic, public, and independent schools. Additionally, she spent five years in the College of Education and Human Ecology, School of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University where she directed NSF-funded projects and provided professional development for elementary and middle school teachers. Jessica is a reviewer for NSTA’s elementary journal, Science and Children, and has served on several NSTA advisory boards. Jessica presents at local, regional, and national conferences and teaches preservice elementary science and social studies methods in Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education program. Jessica lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and dogs.