COBER'S CHOICE

by Alan E. Cober ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 19, 1979

Cober's Choice is strongly reminiscent of Hosie's Alphabet, except that the black-and-white pen drawings here more closely resemble--in style and to a degree in subject--Leonard Baskin's also-famous renderings of owls and other deadly specimens. Cober's animals--muskrat to crab to chicken to skunk-all come off looking more or less ominous; and that's not surprising because, besides being his handiwork, many are drawn from taxidermists' models, and some are even depicted in a state of decay. This he tells the reader in brief, flat, remarkably offhand captions: e.g., ""I like this stuffed crow. (It might even be a raven.) I borrowed it from the artist Robert Andrew Parker."" Probably that unconcern--that readiness to say anything or almost nothing--is meant to charm; probably the ball bouncing inexplicably down the alligator-specimen's back is meant to be amusing. But all that this casual disregard of anyone's interests but his own accomplishes, finally, is to demonstrate Cober's confidence in his own virtuosity.

Pub Date: Sept. 19, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Unicorn/Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1979

Categories: CHILDREN'S