K-Gr 2--This beginning reader focuses on differently abled animals as Elephant and Piggy get ready for a game of catch. Before they begin, Snake asks to join them. Simple gestures and facial expressions convey Elephant's embarrassment at Snake's inability to catch a ball. Piggy breaks the silence stating, "You don't have arms!" and Snake dejectedly slithers away. On the next page, Snake diffuses his rejection by saying, "Hee-hee! Ha-ha! Hee-hee! Ha-ha! Hee-hee! I know I do not have arms./I am a snake." Elephant asks, "But can a snake play catch?" The story moves from clever to cruel as Elephant throws the ball and hits Snake on the head, and the reptile's expressions indicate distress. Piggy follows suit, with the same result. Then Elephant decides, "Maybe we need more balls," and the next spread shows Elephant and Piggy bombarding Snake with balls, each one hitting him with a "BONK!" and Snake upside down in anguish. Then Piggy gets the idea to use Snake as the ball. Snake happily says, "Whee!" to which Piggy replies, "I love playing catch with my friends!" While all ends on a positive note, Jeanne Willis's Susan Laughs (Holt, 2000) and Grace Maccarone's The Gym Day Winner (Scholastic, 1996) offer more respectful treatments of inclusion.--Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI
Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
MO WILLEMS is a number one New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. He has been awarded three Caldecott Honors and an Eisner Award for his picture books, and two Theodor Seuss Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors for his celebrated ELEPHANT & PIGGIE early readers. His debut picture book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was inducted into the Picture Book Hall of Fame. Mo began his career as a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. Mo likes cutting vegetables and doesn’t like cleaning dishes, but he does both.
MO WILLEMS es un autor e ilustrador número uno en ventas del New York Times. Ha sido galardonado con tres Caldecott Honors y un premio Eisner por sus libros ilustrados, y dos medallas Theodor Seuss Geisel y cinco honores Geisel por sus célebres lectores principiantes ELEPHANT & PIGGIE. Su primer libro ilustrado, ¡No dejes que la paloma conduzca el autobús!, fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama de los Libros Ilustrados. Mo comenzó su carrera como escritor y animador en Sesame Street, donde obtuvo seis premios Emmy. A Mo le gusta cortar verduras y no le gusta lavar los platos, pero hace ambas cosas.
