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THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE

Name: THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
Author: Betty Miles
ISBN: 0-689-81792-4

adapted by Betty Miles & illustrated by Paul Meisel ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1998

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The well-known fable is economized in a Ready-to-Read edition from Miles (see review, above); the events of the race now take place entirely in dialogue, sometimes in a Dick-and-Jane staccato. Quotation marks and speech bubbles have been abandoned in favor of brief blocks of text placed in proximity to each animal speaker. Once the race begins, it's not long before Hare settles into a nap; a night and a day later, bespectacled, sneaker-wearing Tortoise is still plodding along, slow but steady, coaching himself—``One step, another step. One step and another'' until he takes first place. Meisel's whimsical, uncluttered line drawings fit the format well, bright enough to attract attention and to express action. Larger animal characters sport T-shirts with identifying letters—H for Hare, B for Bear- -while a cheering section of smaller creatures displays banners proclaiming ``Yippee'' and ``Hooray,'' highlighting the tale with humor. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-689-81792-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SKY IS FALLING!
adapted by Betty Miles & illustrated by Cynthia Fisher

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A IS FOR SALAD

by Mike Lester & illustrated by Mike Lester ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2000

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Lester debuts with a promisingly irreverent alphabet, inviting a closer look at the pictures by giving them misleading captions: “A” does indeed feature a salad—but an Alligator is eating it. Similarly, “B is for Viking” accompanies a Beaver in a horned helmet, “C” is for a hot dog held by a tubby tiger Cat, and so forth to “Z,” which, being for “The End,” is exemplified by a Zebra presenting its tush to the viewer. The animals in Lester's stylized menagerie pose in a variety of comically exaggerated expressions, from grumpy to panic-stricken, and the patterned text varies just enough to stave off monotony. Less a reading-skills lesson than a playful exercise in cognitive dissonance, this makes a perfect gateway to Scieszka/Lane territory, or Nicholas Heller's Goblins in Green (1995) and other residents of the picture-book universe's daffier reaches. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2000

ISBN: 0-399-23388-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2000

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
SCRITCH-SCRATCH A PERFECT MATCH
by Kimberly Marcus & illustrated by Mike Lester

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BUTT BOOK
by Artie Bennett and illustrated by Mike Lester

- BOOK REVIEW
COOL DADDY RAT
by Kristyn Crow & illustrated by Mike Lester

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ROSA'S PARROT

by Jan Wahl ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 1999

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An exotic and lushly illustrated book about Rosa, slightly hard of hearing, and her mischievous parrot, Pico, who is supposed to assist her by repeating things loudly for her. However, sometimes for fun, Pico toys with Rosa. When a man comes to the door to sell some tomatoes to Rosa, Pico shouts out, “Not today!” Rosa wants tomatoes, so she puts on her hat and goes off to the market with Pico. When Pico meows at some dogs, pandemonium ensues, with tomatoes, flowers, and eggs everywhere. Rosa is angry, but not for long. The story is loosely plotted, with the locale providing an excuse for Howard to break out the brightest colors in her palette; the book is not strong enough for repeat readings, but preschoolers will be curious about what kind of havoc the impish Pico will wreak. (Picture book. 3-6)