A Book for Woody

Kindergarten-Grade 2?As he is getting ready to leave after a visit with his grandfather, Woody the pig is shown a special shelf and told that he may choose a book to read on the train. The first title jumps into his lap and says it will teach him manners; the second offers adventures with monsters, dragons, and princesses; the third boasts of silly fun; the fourth delivers a serious math lesson; and the fifth promises a true-to-life tale with a pig hero. The sixth says nothing, but on its cover is written A Book for Woody. "'This is the one I want!'" the young pig says, and reads about himself as the family travels home. Evidently one's own experiences are the most interesting. This unexciting story is told in lively read-aloud prose with action verbs and snappy dialogue. Crisply outlined cartoon illustrations in black ink and bright watercolors are nicely varied. The typeface is particularly attractive and well defined. Too bad the basic premise is weak.?Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4-6. Woody's grandpa introduces the young pig to a shelf of most unusual books. As Woody tries to choose one to read on his train ride home, the books call out to him one by one and try to sell him on their contents: manners, adventure, silly humor, learning, realistic fiction, and a book, entitled A Book for Woody, that hones in on every preschooler's favorite subject. As Woody says, "It's about me!" Bold, bright line-and-watercolor pictures illustrate the story. For larger picture book collections and those where Heller's Woody (1994) has a following. Carolyn Phelan