The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Lenain, Thierry

Little Zizi

32 pp. | Cinco | April, 2008 | Trade ISBN 978-1-933693-05-7 $16.95

(4) K-3 Translated by Daniel Zolinsky. Illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. After a bully ridicules his small "zizi," gradeschooler Martin fears he'll never have a chance with it-girl Anais. Lenain's stated reason for writing the book was to discourage male preoccupation with "manliness," but the topic of penis-size anxiety vis-à-vis snagging a hot babe won't resonate with the intended audience. Regardless, readers will root for Martin, a pint-size nebbish in glasses and tie.

Reviewer: Nell Beram