FICTION

How Much Does the Gray in an Elephant Weigh?

by Erik Van Os
VAN LIESHOUT, Elle & . How Much Does the Gray in an Elephant Weigh? tr. from Dutch. illus. by Alice Hoogstad. 32p. Lemniscaat. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-935954-27-9.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Although the fanciful illustrations are captivating, the rhythm of the text in this translation is awkward and sometimes confusing. A young boy and his grandfather visit the zoo, and the child asks a series of questions, some interesting, some puzzling, including, "Why does giraffe have spots of brown,/And do zebra's stripes go up, or down?" and "And do you think the rhino sees/His horn is where his nose should be?" Still, children will most likely enjoy the adorable, colorful artwork; unfortunately the giraffe's spots are red, not brown, and some of the questions are silly (with a typo): "And do flamingo's necks get tangled,/When they dance the wild fandango?" Most collections can pass on this one.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA
Reviewed by Jasmine L. Precopio , Aug 01, 2013

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