Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Mathieu's exuberant art sets off Numeroff's neatly veiled silliness" in this "antithesis of a nonsense rhymea verse that derives its kid-appeal by its apparent sensibleness," said PW. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-A jaunty, rhymed text provides a litany of unlikely scenarios- sheep in the shower, hens in the swimming pool-some of which work better than others. It's Mathieu's wacky and inventive illustrations that really carry the show. His expressive animals lift weights, dangle off diving boards, and cavort in a variety of crazy outfits. Kids will enjoy the silliness, even if the book isn't as much fun as John Cameron's If Mice Could Fly (Atheneum, 1979; o.p.). Teachers will appreciate the final page, which invites readers to ``tell me what you see,'' making the title a spirited springboard for creative activities. Useful, but not especially memorable.- Lori A. Janick, Parkwood Elementary School, Pasadena, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A verse details a list of things animals 'don't' do: 'Moose don't go bowling / And hens never swim / And you'll never see roosters / Working out in a gym.' Readers are invited to think of other items to add to the list. The verse is fun but fairly average; the color illustrations of anthropomorphic animals are cartoonlike. From HORN BOOK 1993, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
``...And pigs don't wear hats/And dresses look silly/On Siamese cats,'' begins this cheerful litany, by the author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985), of ridiculous impossibilities- -the last few seen from a different perspective after Numeroff suggests, ``Now just close your eyes/And draw with your mind...tell me what you see? It's your dream--not mine!'' Using soft pencil and watercolor against a white ground that dramatizes the lively activity, Mathieu, a frequent illustrator of Sesame Street books, visualizes such unlikely scenes as skunks on scooters, a skiing yak taking a header, or gnus building a ``gnu'' house in a spirited, comical style that's sure to appeal to the preschool crowd as much as the deliciously silly text does. (Picture book. 4-7)
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