There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...
Alice wanted a doll for her birthday. She wouldn't settle for anything less. She had a baby carriage and socks ready for the doll she was sure she was getting. However, her birthday gift didn't look exactly as she had pictured him. Her mom tried convincing Alice that it was a much better gift than a regular doll. Alice wasn't convinced. She took him to the park in the baby carriage (she couldn't figure out where to put the socks) but she kept him hidden from her friends, telling them "he was very fragile, and often got the flu". Can Alice keep the truth about her "doll" a secret? And if he isn't a doll, what is he? Read My First . . . by Eva Montanari to learn the secret of Alice's birthday gift. Not only is this a unique and curious story, but Montanari's quirky, atmospheric illustrations are fantastic.
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