FICTION

The Short Giraffe

by Neil FLORY
illus. by Mark Cleary. 24p. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2014. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780807573464.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Caution: due to humor escalation, this is not a bedtime story. When a blue baboon arrives to photograph the tallest animals in the world, a quintet of goofy and multihued giraffes prepares a pose. When the animals realize that a sixth member, Geri, "the shortest giraffe who ever lived," won't fit in the frame, ridiculous attempts to raise him ensue. From stilts to filling Geri with helium, the resulting crashes are captured by baboon's photos and given running commentary by a wee caterpillar that ultimately solves the problem. Cleary's soft-hued, gentle cartoonlike illustrations magnify the silliness.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
When giraffes gather to pose for a photo, they can't figure out a way to get Geri, "the shortest giraffe who ever lived," into the shot. Eventually a clever and observant caterpillar speaks up with a simple solution. The digital illustrations of goofy-looking, multicolored giraffes in silly situations (e.g., Geri tries stilts) and the heartwarming final photo will keep kids smiling.
Reviewed by Gay Lynn Van Vleck , Feb 01, 2014

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