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CYRIL THE MANDRILL

Name: CYRIL THE MANDRILL
Author: Francesca Greco
ISBN: 1-932065-92-X

by Francesca Greco & illustrated by Francesca Greco ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 2005

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Greco switches species and locale on Leo Lionni’s Frederick (1967), but keeps the basic plot. The zoo’s other monkeys dis Cyril for his brightly colored face (and rump, though that merits barely a mention in this earnest episode)—until they’re driven to distraction by winter’s long, grey days indoors, and he uses his blue, red, and yellow phiz to remind them of the outdoors’ hues: “One of them asked, ‘Why is your mouth yellow?’ ‘It is yellow like the sun when it wakes up in the morning and begins to rise. Do you remember the sun?’ ” Frederick the mouse is more of a poet, but shaggy, bright-faced Cyril makes a strong central presence in Greco’s splashy watercolors, particularly as the tale is sandwiched between full-spread, head-on views. The monkeys’ dreamy faces, along with occasional glimpses of the zoo’s other denizens, add visual interest. No replacement for the classic, but an acceptable alternative and a small lesson in acceptance of those who are different. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2005

ISBN: 1-932065-92-X

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Star Bright

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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THE CAT BARKED?

by Lydia Monks ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1999

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This candy-colored tribute to cats starts with a particular cat bemoaning, in verse, its lot compared to a dog’s life. Dogs go for those long walks, yip and yap, chase crooks, and get all the plum roles in Hollywood. Then the cat’s mistress intervenes: “Silly old cat,/If your wish did come true,/You’d have to do things/You wouldn’t want to do.” Chewing bones, being led around on a leash, fetching, and performing silly tricks are among the disadvantages mentioned; next, the advantages are enumerated, such as seeing in the dark, catching mice, climbing trees, pouncing, and “In sunny spots and soft places/Cats like to take naps,/And they’re just the right size/For cuddling in laps.” Readers will be firmly converted to the superiority of the cat’s life, and pleasingly distracted by the high-wattage collage artwork. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-8037-2338-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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HIDING HORATIO

by Udo Weigelt ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1999

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PLB 0-7358-1068-0 Woodland creatures are terrified to discover a hippopotamus in their midst, but when they discover he’s a friendly fellow, his size becomes less intimidating. When a small circus decides they don’t need Horatio, the hippopotamus decides to go home to Africa instead of waiting around to be sold. He ends up in a deciduous forest, where squirrels, mice, and badgers peek at him from among the leaves. Horatio’s gentle nature wins them over, just in time for them to help him baffle the hunters who are hot on his trail. “How could a hippo vanish into thin air?” puzzles one hunter as he leans against a large gray boulder. By the time he figures out the rock was really Horatio, the hippo has found another hiding place (his legs become tree stumps the hunters climb as part of their search; he also becomes a small flower-covered island). The hunters eventually give up in frustration, while Horatio decides he’s found a new home. Slow to start, Weigelt’s story becomes truly funny when the hunters enter the scene; the contrast between the deadpan text and Horatio’s absurd hiding places is pitch-perfect for preschoolers, who know only too well how to hide in plain sight. (Picture book. 4-7)