Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit

PreS-Gr 1—Ernest tries his darnedest to fit on the pages of this book. With the help of his chipmunk friend, he attempts to "shimmy, shift, and shuffle in forward" and "squidge, squodge, and squeeze in backward." Nothing works; all of him just won't fit. Then chipmunk has an idea; fetching masking tape and paper, she and Ernest cobble together a gatefold for the last page. Now, the moose "fits in perfectly." The graph-paper pattern on heavy stock is the perfect background against which loose, textured line drawings humorously depict the predicament of the gangly Ernest and his furry friend. The amusing extension, cleverly constructed from a hodgepodge of gaily patterned "paper" stuck together with much tape, makes for a delightful resolution. The simple plot marries perfectly with the large-scale, highly tactile drawings and oversize font to create a winning book that children will beg to see and hear again and again, whether lap-sitting or in a group. Brilliant!—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT