This book will catch the eye of many a child because of the shiny, metallic gold fish scales on the cover. They might also enjoy looking through the book because Stanley, shiny and sparkly, is on every page. Unfortunately, that's about all Bright Stanley has to offer. The story is weak and, at times, doesn't even make sense. For example, it starts out with Stanley waking up late and inadvertently being left behind by his "school" as they all swim off to "cooler waters for the summer". Why didn't they just wake him up with everyone else? And doesn't he know the way? In the end, when they do meet up, his friends say "We've been looking all over for you!" Well, guys, he was home in bed. The writing appears to be in rough draft form, that stage before a good editor has taken a look at it. The dialogue between Stanley and a lobster he encounters is clumsy. There's no flow to the text. It would not make a good read-aloud, so save your breath. But, again, the visual qualities of Bright Stanley, the shiny scales, and the big toothed shark in the middle of the book, might be enough to capture the attention of young children.
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...
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