Edwina the Emu

September 1, 1997
PreS-Gr 1-Two emus who live in a zoo suddenly find themselves expecting 10 little emus. But this is the 90s, so Edwina tells Edward, "I'll look for a job, you stay on the nest." She tries her feathers at a host of positions, from ballet dancer to chimney sweep, but none are right for her. So she heads home to share the workload with Edward. Knowles tells this entertaining tale in a catchy rhyming text. Clement's amusing cartoons complement the story, capturing the silly mood. Edwina sports a short ponytail tied back in a bright purple band, while the human characters are really caricatures, with exaggerated features and outrageous expressions that are sure to elicit laughs. Youngsters will be happy to follow along as life takes on new challenges for the emus and their soon-to-be family. The cadence of the text make it a good choice for reading aloud, although beginning readers will have fun with the rhymes as well.-Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY