Do Pigs Have Stripes?

From Booklist Ages 3^-6. Walsh asks the kinds of questions that leave preschoolers in stitches: "Are these the antlers of a monkey " Part of the hilarity comes from knowing the answer and waiting for the turn of the page to reveal it, and part comes from the incongruous mental images of monkeys with antlers, mice with spiky green tails, and porcupines spotted like Holstein cows. Walsh wisely never shows the animals mixed up, and she accompanies the off-the-wall inquiries, which appear in large, black letters, with boldly colored, comical paintings. The effect is clean, graphically charged, and funny. Walsh ends on an upbeat note, asking a question ("Does a giraffe have a long thin neck " ) that will elicit a resounding "Yes!" from story hour groups. Susan Dove Lempke Product Description Colorful, quirky illustrations and entertaining questions provide young children with an introduction to the animal world as they discover the special characteristics of such animals as the pig, the zebra, and a monkey. From Publishers Weekly In this playful animal name-game, first-time picture book author Walsh poses obvious but entertaining questions and answers sure to elicit giggles from the preschool set. Each sequence requires two spreads: the first displays just a bit of a mystery beast ("Does a bird have a big black wet nose "), and the turn of a page provides a complete picture of the animal ("No, a dog does."). Walsh varies the queries slightly to avoid repetition ("Are these the feet of a pussycat ... No, they belong to an elephant."), and just as readers get used to answering "No," the volume's final question ("Does a giraffe have a long thin neck ") takes an affirmative response. Walsh favors solid colors, visible brush strokes and a minimum of detail; an alligator's saw-edged green tail brightens against a complementary deep-red backdrop. Such bold, basic images can be seen at a distance, and the hand-printed black lettering is large enough to display to a reading group. Walsh's words and pictures demonstrate considerable wit, despite the simplicity of their presentation. Ages 4-7. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal PreS A simplistic book that encourages children to shout out their favorite word. Silly questions about a variety of animals, both domestic and wild, are included. " 'Does a bird have a big black wet nose ' 'No, a dog does.' 'Are these the antlers of a monkey ' 'No, they belong to a deer.' " The bold, childlike illustrations will appeal to young viewers, but the pig looks like a pink dog with a pig's nose and tail, and the anteater is totally unrecognizable. Julie Lacome's Walking through the Jungle (Candlewick, 1993) is a better title for animal recognition. Lisa Marie Gangemi, Sousa Elementary School, Port Washington, NYCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews Burning questions of the animal world are answered here: Does a bird have a big black wet nose Does a fish have a long tongue With a loud ``No'' to every question but one, Walsh's debut acts less as a primer in zoology than as a template of the question-and-answer format. It may be a toddler's first quiz book. Simple, Lucy Cousins-like illustrations reinforce the regularly paced queries, with rough forms against bright backgrounds. The work is easily mastered, and doesn't bear rereading, but certainly has its charms. (Picture book. 3-5) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Review "Sure to elicit giggles." -- Review About the Author After studying at the Harrow School of Art and the Royal College of Art, Melanie Walsh worked as a textile designer before writing and illustrating childrens books. In addition to receiving many fine reviews, she won the Parents Choice Gold Award for Do Pigs Have Stripes Melanie lives in London and has two young twin sons.
Author: Walsh, Melanie

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Binding: Hardcover

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0395739764

ISBN-13: 9780395739761