Creature Feature
Staff -- School Library Journal, 5/1/1998
The real and imagined lives of animals and their interactions with those around them have always provided the fodder for creative minds. The books listed below represent a virtual banquet of animal stories. Many of the selections are funny; others are sad or poignant. What these authors know, and their appreciative readers will learn, is that whether they are feathered or furry, wild or tame, naturalistically or anthropomorphically rendered, all creatures great and small have a story to tell. The month in which the original review appeared follows each annotation. -- LT
AESOP. The Best of Aesop's Fables. retold by Margaret Clark. illus. by Charlotte Voake. Joy Street/Little. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-316-14499-1.
PreS-Gr 4-Twenty-seven popular fables, illustrated with verve, whimsy, and an eye for the unusual or the absurd. No morals are needed here, for the carefully chosen words and beguiling pictures elicit the obvious conclusions from readers. (Oct. 1990)
AVI. Poppy. illus. by Brian Floca. (Richard Jackson Bks.). Orchard. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-531-09483-9; PLB $16.99. ISBN 0-531-08783-2.
Gr 3-5-An intrepid young mouse musters her courage to defeat a great horned owl who has hoodwinked her family into believing that he is their protector. Tender fantasy that delves into issues of courage, loyalty, and justice. (Dec. 1995)
BERENZY, Alix. A Frog Prince. illus. by author. Holt. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-8050-0426-2; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-8050-1848-4.
Gr 2-4-The hero of this neoclassical fairy tale is a veritable prince of a frog-brave, honest, and true. Overcoming great obstacles and depths of despair, he is finally rewarded with his heart's desire. Vivid paintings are rich in detail and illuminated with jewel-like gleam in this sparkling effort. (Oct. 1989)
BYARS, Betsy. Wanted . . . Mud Blossom. illus. by Jacqueline Rogers. Delacorte. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-385-30428-5; pap. $4.50. ISBN 0-440-40761-3.
Gr 4-8-Mystery's afoot for the Blossom family as their friend Mad Mary comes up missing and their beloved dog is accused of murdering the school hamster. A rip-roaring good read. (July 1991)
CALHOUN, Mary. High-Wire Henry. illus. by Erick Ingraham. Morrow. Tr $15. ISBN 0-688-08983-6; PLB $14.93. ISBN 0-688-08984-4.
Gr 1-3-Jealousy drives this haughty feline to walk an emotional tightrope when a new puppy arrives, but after Henry heroically rescues the rascal, he feels reassured about his place in the family. High-spirited adventure, with the cat's wonderfully depicted displays of emotion stealing the show. (Apr. 1991)
COWCHER, Helen. Tigress. illus. by author. Farrar. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-374-37567-4; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-374-47781-7.
Gr 1-4-When a tigress ventures outside the safe confines of an Indian wildlife sanctuary to find food and kills a bullock and camel, local herdsmen take action. Stunning illustrations of magnificent beasts and a substantive story line reinforce the importance of maintaining nature's delicate balance. (Dec. 1991)
DICKINSON, Peter. Eva. Bantam. pap. $4.50. ISBN 0-440-20766-5.
Gr 8-12-Provocative ideas, seamlessly related, draw readers into an unforgettable possibility, when a comatose girl's memory and brain patterns are transferred to the healthy body of a chimp. Raising ethical and moral questions, Dickinson creates a vision both profound and chilling. (Apr. 1989)
ERNST, Lisa Campbell. Zinnia and Dot. illus. by author. Viking. RTE $14.99. ISBN 0-670-83091-7; pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-14-054199-3.
K-Gr 3-Two vain hens run afoul of a weasel's trickery and prove, indeed, that pride goeth before a fall. When left with just one egg between them, they realize the value of cooperation and friendship. (July 1992)
GRAHAM, Harriet. A Boy and His Bear. S & S/McElderry. RTE $16. ISBN 0-689-80943-3.
Gr 4-7-Dickon, a tanner's apprentice with a gift for communicating with animals, risks all to save a bear cub from a violent death. High adventure in Elizabethan England. (Nov. 1996)
HESSE, Karen. Sable. illus. by Marcia Sewall. (Redfeather Bks.). Holt. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-8050-2416-6.
Gr 3-5-Tate finds that loving the scrawny stray that wanders into her life is much easier than making her into a perfect dog. A spare, down-home heart-warmer. (May 1994)
JAMES, Mary. Shoebag. Scholastic. Tr $13.95. ISBN 0-590-43029-7; pap. $3.50. ISBN 0-590-43030-0.
Gr 4-6-A young cockroach feels only revulsion when he is transmuted into a boy, even though he realizes that being human has some advantages. An amusing, wry family story with insight into the insect condition. (June 1990)
JOYCE, William. Bently and Egg. illus. by author. (Laura Geringer Bks). HarperCollins. Tr $15. ISBN 0-06-020385-4; PLB $14.89. ISBN 0-06-020386-2; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-06-443352-8.
PreS-Gr 3-A quick-thinking frog has some unexpected excitement when he becomes caregiver and guardian to his friend duck's newly laid egg. An engaging story of "eggnapping," the cycle of nature, and the nature of friendship. (Apr. 1992)KING-SMITH, Dick. The Cuckoo Child. illus. by Leslie W. Bowman. Hyperion. Tr $13.95. ISBN 1-56282-350-7; pap. $3.50. ISBN 0-7868-1001-7.
Gr 3-5-A farmboy rescues an ostrich egg from python consumption and gives it to his nesting geese to raise. Wacky situations and wild characters will gain many fans for this one-of-a-kind family. (Apr. 1993)
KING-SMITH, Dick. Martin's Mice. illus. by Jez Alborough. Crown. Tr $13. ISBN 0-517-57113-7.
Gr 2-5-An engaging, wise fantasy. A well-meaning cat loves mice, and captures one as a pet. Only when Martin becomes a pet himself does he understand about the nature of freedom and friendship. Sparkling characterizations and laugh-out-loud dialogue add levity to a book filled with depth and emotion. (Jan. 1989)
LISLE, Janet. Forest. (Richard Jackson Bks.). Orchard. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-531-06803-X; PLB $16.99. ISBN 0-531-08653-4; Scholastic. pap. $3.50. ISBN 0-590-48680-2.
Gr 4-7-Seeking to assuage her anger at her father, a girl climbs high into the upper reaches of a white oak tree and discovers an organized community of intelligent beings-the squirrels. When the furry creatures and the humans who live below them clash, levelheaded Amber, her brother, and their newfound friends avert open warfare. A witty expose of the uses and abuses of power. (Nov. 1993)
MARSHALL, James. Rats on the Roof: And Other Stories. illus. by author. Dial. Tr $13. ISBN 0-8037-0834-3; PLB $12.89. ISBN 0-8037-0835-1.
Gr 2-4-Seven amusing stories about anthropomorphic animals, ranging from a cultured cat with an unlikely rat phobia to a swan that becomes a sitting duck, perfectly paired with droll drawings. Fabulous fare for beginning readers. (July 1991)
MEDDAUGH, Susan. Hog-Eye. illus. by author. Houghton. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-395-74276-5.
K-Gr 3-A self-assured little pig regales her family with her tall tale of besting a hungry wolf. A captivating cautionary tale, with comic illustrations to match.(Oct. 1995)
MEDDAUGH, Susan. Martha Calling. illus. by author. Houghton. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-395-69825-1; pap. $4.95. ISBN 0-395-82741-8.
K-Gr 3-A loquacious, outgoing pup uses her eloquence to fight the three words she hates most: "No dogs allowed." Popsicle colored cartoons and offbeat dialogue balloons heighten the absurdity of the situation. (Nov. 1994)
RATHMANN, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria. illus. by author. Putnam. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-399-22616-8.
K-Gr 3-A policeman puts students to sleep with his safety lessons until he teams up with an arresting pup who literally steals his show. A laugh-out-loud romp with a lot to say about jealousy and friendship. (Sept. 1995)
RYLANT, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat. illus. by Sucie Stevenson. S & S. RTE $14. ISBN 0-689-81012-1; pap. $3.99. ISBN 0-689-81013-X.
K-Gr 2-A shabby, scraggly stray cat moves in with Henry's family and adopts their oversized hound, Mudge, nurturing and teaching him proper feline etiquette. A heart-tugging yet buoyant story, illustrated with hilarious scenes to tickle beginning readers. (Aug. 1990)
SCHOENHERR, John. Bear. illus. by author. Philomel. RTE $14.95. ISBN 0-399-22177-8; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-698-11376-4.
PreS-Gr 3-A story about a young cub learning to survive alone in an austere setting fraught with danger. Majestic watercolors of the land and its inhabitants illustrate a dramatic wildlife adventure with an empathetic main character. (May 1991)
SEIDLER, Tor. Mean Margaret. illus. by Jon Agee. HarperCollins/di Capua. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-06-205090-7; PLB $14.89. ISBN 0-06-205091-5.
Gr 3-6-A wildly funny story of a newly wed woodchuck couple who find a willful, wailing human toddler and take her into their home and into their hearts. (Nov. 1997)
WADDELL, Martin. Farmer Duck. illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick. RTE $16.99. ISBN 1-56402-009-6; pap. $4.99. ISBN 1-56402-596-9.
PreS-Gr 2-When a dedicated and diligent duck is on the brink of exhaustion from looking after a loutish farmer, the barnyard creatures rally around her by rousting the idler and claiming the place as their own. Uproarious and totally wacky. (May 1992)
WELLS, Rosemary. McDuff Moves In. illus. by Susan Jeffers. Hyperion. Tr $12.95. ISBN 0-7868-0318-5; PLB $12.89. ISBN 0-7868-2257-0.
PreS-Gr 2-A personable pup is rejected at several doors before finding a loving home, complete with an herbal bath and vanilla rice pudding. (May 1997)
YOSHIDA, Toshi. Young Lions. illus. by author. Philomel. RTE $13.95. ISBN 0-399-21546-8.
Gr 1-4-Infused with light, Yoshida's golden, cinematic sweeps of the African plain illuminate the tense story of three lion cubs who venture out on their very first hunt. A dramatic, subtly told lesson of interdependence in the natural world, and a powerful introduction to animal life in another part of the world. (Apr. 1989)
