Reviews by Laurie Doan
A Hat for Minerva Louise By Janet Morgan Stoeke
Dutton Children’s Books, 1994.
Plucky chicken, Minerva Louise, loves a snowy day but brrrrr she could use something warm to put on. Minerva is hilarious as she tries on, among other things, a garden hose for a scarf and a planter for a hat. Lucky for her she finds the perfect “hat” and struts through the henhouse in style. This story will delight preschoolers with its cheerfully curved chicken and her barnyard friends. The illustrations are rendered in story board form with the kind of clear pictures that are perfect for holding up to show to a group.
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Farmer Duck By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press, 1992.
Farmer Duck is undervalued as he works himself to the bone while the fat farmer lies in bed all day foully devouring chocolates and barking orders through the window. As Duck becomes despondent, his animal friends hatch a plan that will really give the farmer his just desserts. The watercolor illustrations capture the breaking mornings, the long days work, and the cover of darkness as the animals move stealthily across the pages of this animal farm yarn.
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Mouse Paint By Ellen Stoll Walsh
Harcourt, 1989.
Three white mice and three jars of paint lead to some creative lessons in color mixing. Made of cut-paper collage, these perky mini-Picasso’s cover a lot of canvas and still manage to outsmart the cat in this paint filled caper. Budding young artists will want to create their own masterpieces after taking in this mice tale.
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About the reviewer: Laurie went to New Eagle where she learned to read. She read the book Blueberries for Sal over and over and over. She knows you’re never too old for enjoying picture books!
