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Wojtowycz, David
7 Reviews
(4)
K-3
Step into Reading series.
Elephant Joe and Zebra Pete, firefighters extraordinaire, rescue a dragon stuck in a tree and put out the fire said dragon creates when blowing out birthday candles. The vocabulary is easy to read, the language natural, and bright comic-book panels mirror the action. However, lack of transition between the two episodes creates a potential point of confusion for beginning readers.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
(3)
K-3
When a damsel is in distress, Elephant Joe (and his sidekick Zebra Pete) recover the king's missing crown instead. This over-the-top fractured fairy tale holds all the usual conventions (hero, villain, happy ending), but with a twist in characters--elephant hero, crocodile villain, ticklish dragon. Mixed-media illustrations capture the zany antics of the unexpected menagerie.
Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty
(3)
PS
In Choo Choo, double-page spreads announce each featured vehicle ("Big red fire truck speeding to a fire") and corresponding sound ("honk honk honk"); in Moo, the format is reprised, except posturing animals make the sounds. It's hard to imagine the youngest of readers not responding to each book's noises, bright outsize images, and final, cumulative visual and aural collision. [Review covers these titles: Can You Choo Choo? and Can You Moo?.]
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(3)
PS
In Choo Choo, double-page spreads announce each featured vehicle ("Big red fire truck speeding to a fire") and corresponding sound ("honk honk honk"); in Moo, the format is reprised, except posturing animals make the sounds. It's hard to imagine the youngest of readers not responding to each book's noises, bright outsize images, and final, cumulative visual and aural collision. [Review covers these titles: Can You Choo Choo? and Can You Moo?.]
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(4)
PS
Young polar bear Claude goes to visit his aunt in the Arctic, and his parents promise him a surprise on his return. When the bear that Claude builds out of snow melts on the plane ride home, he's pleased to find that his parents' surprise is a "real, live, little snow bear." His complete delight over his new baby sister is as upbeat (and bland) as the book's simple text and colorful illustrations.
Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander
(3)
PS
Claude the polar bear is waiting for a cuddle, but Mom can't stop what she's doing. Eventually, he gives up and runs away into the garden. The boldly colored illustrations offer hints of the reason for Mom's preoccupation: she's fixing a special snack for a surprise visit from Grandma. When Grandma arrives, all three have a satisfying cuddle.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(4)
PS
Flamboyant animal guests at Hotel 1 2 3, from "one warthog wearing a wig" to "ten tigers in tutus," are shown in each of the hotel's ten rooms. The delightfully bold, busy illustrations pack many amusements (the seven singing sheep include an Elvis impersonator); one only wishes that Wojtowycz had maintained the alliteration throughout: "nine polite pigs" lacks the snap of "six sleepwalking skunks."
Reviewer: Nell Beram
7 reviews
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