NOTHING STICKS LIKE A SHADOW

by Ann Tompert ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1984

Amiable foolishness--kept in the running by expressive, entertaining animal drawings, in the A. B. Frost vein. The subject is shedding a shadow: Rabbit boasts that he can escape his, ""if I want to""; Woodchuck bets him that he can't. Hiding behind bushes doesn't do it--as soon as Rabbit peeks, his head shows. Running away is unavailing; sweeping the shadow away (Beaver's not-so-bright thought) only loses the shadow till the dust settles. Skunk tries to pull Rabbit and his shadow apart; Fox sees if she can cut Rabbit's shadow loose. Raccoon vainly suggests soaking the shadow off in the river. Dripping and dejected, Rabbit trudges off to tell Woodchuck he's won--and, lying down to wait, falls asleep thinking ""maybe the sun will melt my shadow away."" Woodchuck wakens him with congratulations--it's dark, and the shadow is gone. Rabbit now voices regrets (""I was only trying to show you. . ."")--but just then the clouds part, a full moon shines. . and both animals, partnered by their shadows, break into dance. Starting with the simplest, peek-a-boo shadow play, this is mirthful without straining. The pages are also somewhat larger than today's norm for simple drawn-and-colored sequences--giving the book a pleasant, old-time spaciousness.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1984

ISBN: 0395479509

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1984

Categories: CHILDREN'S