Cock-a-Doodle Who?

April 15, 2012
Die-cuts and a rhyming question-and-answer format showcase animals and patterns. Two different but similar patterns are used in this puzzle that depends on reveals. A die-cut animal shape is shown against an inappropriate pattern, and a question is posed. "Mooing cow, for whom do you wait?" (The cow has a black-and-white-flowered hide.) After the page turn, the animal has its proper pattern and the new image answers the original question. "This maid stepping with a very quick gait." (The milkmaid wears a flowered dress; the Holstein now has the usual black-and-white coloring.) The cow, duck, snail, sheep, ladybugs, trout, fox and rooster are presented as a farm animal collection, but they make an unusual one. The couplets, translated from the original French, have end rhyme, but limping rhythm makes them difficult to read aloud. Two of Perrin's previous books have been published here as board books (Look Who's There! and What Do You See?, 2011) but this title has been formatted for slightly older readers. Its bold colors and interesting patterns have appeal, but both the experiences (plucking mushrooms?) and the stilted language may be beyond even the kindergarten child. For die-cut surprises read Laura Vaccaro Seeger's Lemons Are Not Red (2004) or Herve Tullet's The Book with a Hole (2011) instead. (Picture book. 5-7)

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April 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 1-This board book uses rhyming text and die-cut illustrations to introduce youngsters to a variety of animals. Similar to What Do You See? and Look Who's There (both Albert Whitman, 2011), only three colors are used on each spread. In this book, black and white are accented by one other hue. This contrasting color technique is great for babies and toddlers, as is the use of different patterns and die-cuts. The text requires a slightly older audience; it asks questions on one page-"Mooing cow, for whom do you wait?"-and answers them on the next, "This maid stepping with a very quick gait." The vocabulary is challenging and not necessarily child-friendly. For example, some of the pairings, e.g., "Who makes you leave your home, poor snail? A hiker who plucks mushrooms for sale," might require a bit of explanation. However, the art is consistently clever and pleasing. An additional purchase because of its broad visual appeal.-Lora Van Marel, Orland Park Public Library, IL

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