Children's Book Reviews
Page One of TwoA Big Cheese for the White House by Candace Fleming, Illustrated by S.D. Schindler
DK Publishing, Sept., 1999.Hardcover, 32 pages
Ages 3-8
ISBN: 0789425734.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
In 1801, the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts
are enraged. Rumor has it that President
Thomas Jefferson has been serving cheese from
the town of Norton at the White House!
Everyone knows that the best cheese in the country
comes from Cheshire. Elder
John Leland has an idea. If everyone in the town
will contribute, they could make the a huge cheddar
cheese to give to Thomas Jefferson as a New Year's
present. That way, there would be no need for Norton
cheddar to be served at the White House for years to come.
"It can't be done," says the town grump Phineas Dobbs.
But the people persevere, making a cheddar four feet
thick, weighing 1,235 pounds which they send by
horse-drawn sleigh and by ship to Washington, D.C.
"News of the cheese traveled faster than the ship.
At every port, people flocked to catch a glimpse.
'It's tremendous!' they cried."
The cheese was a great hit with the President,
and lasted for years.
The story of the giant cheddar is a true one, but the wonderful characters (such as the town grump) arise from the talented imagination of author Candace Fleming. Phineas repeatedly tells the townspeople why they can't succeed in this task (there's not a big enough cheese press, there's no hoop big enough to hold the cheese etc.) and repeatedly the townspeople overcome every obstacle in order to make the cheese which will ensure the town's place in history. Schindler's illustrations, done in pen and watercolor are vibrant and humorous, striking just the right note. We look forward to more collaborations from this talented team.
Copy Me, Copycub by Richard Edwards, Pictures by Susan Winter
HarperCollins, Dec., 1999.Hardcover, 32 pages
Ages 3 - 7
ISBN: 0060285702.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
"It was spring in the north woods, and the
bears were out exploring. Everything his mother
did, the cub did too." So begins this charming
tale of the little bear cub who copies everything
his mother does in order to learn to be a proper
bear. Mother and baby bear splash through a
swamp, sit down for a scratch, pick
berries, and climb a tree for honey. When Autumn
comes, the days get colder and frost appears on
the ground. Mother bear tells the little copycub
that it's time to go to the cave to shelter them
from the coming winter. They set off on a cross
country trip, lolloping through trees and wading streams,
but soon the little baby bear gets tired. It's snowing
now, and he just wants to curl up and go to sleep.
But his mother helps him keep going and they
finally reach the cave. "They watched the snow
falling outside. Then they snuggled down into
the leaves." It's time to hibernate until Spring.
Copy me, Copycub is a charming and warm nature story which toddlers are sure to love. Susan Winter's watercolor illustrations are done in lovely pastels, with wonderful expressions on both of the bears' faces. The text has repetition, and some fun nonsense words (lolloping, for example) which should have toddlers longing for story time again.
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