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HOW TO CATCH AN ELEPHANT

Name: HOW TO CATCH AN ELEPHANT
Author: Amy Schwartz
ISBN: 0-7894-2579-3

by Amy Schwartz ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1999

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Taking a broad swipe at children’s silly bones, Schwartz (A Teeny Tiny Baby, 1994, etc.) concocts a strategy for elephant-snatching that involves raisins (“Elephants are crazy about raisins!”), cake (“Elephants hate cake!”), a telescope, and savvy advice from an uncle. In uncluttered cartoon illustrations, an intrepid, carrot- topped young trapper is pitted against an enormous, bright yellow elephant who, becoming very annoyed when the raisins run out, stomps the cakes “flatter than a pancake in Topeka,” and looks angry enough to stomp the child as well. Remembering her uncle’s advice, she takes a quick look through the telescope’s big end, and sees that the ponderous pachyderm is pocket-sized, just right for taking home. It’s a wild, daffy recipe for gasps and giggles: now, anyone for a bear hunt? (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-7894-2579-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: DK Publishing

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
CINNAMON BUN, I LOVE YOU 1
by Amy Schwartz ; illustrated by Amy Schwartz

- BOOK REVIEW
100 THINGS I KNOW HOW TO DO
by Amy Schwartz ; illustrated by Amy Schwartz

- BOOK REVIEW
13 STORIES ABOUT HARRIS
by Amy Schwartz ; illustrated by Amy Schwartz

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QUACK AND COUNT

by Keith Baker & illustrated by Keith Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

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Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-292858-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
HAP-PEA VALENTINE'S DAY
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
LMNO PEA-QUEL
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
HAP-PEA ALL YEAR
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

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BIG BROWN BEAR

by David McPhail & illustrated by David McPhail ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999

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Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)