Tweak Tweak

In this tender story from Bunting (Will It Be a Baby Brother?), Mama Elephant advises Little Elephant to "tweak twice," by pulling on her tail, if she has any questions while they go for a walk. And at almost every turn of the page, Little Elephant does. Ruzzier's delicate lines and subdued colors match the tenor of the text, as Little Elephant asks her mother to identify various animals (a frog, a monkey, a bird, etc.), then wonders if she can also jump, climb, or sing. "Can I sing like that?" Little Elephant asks. "No, because you are not a bird.... But you can trumpet--like this. RO-OAR!" Ruzzier (Hey, Rabbit!) warmly conveys the small elephant's emotions and the reactions of other animals in fantasy spreads that show the elephant leaping between cliffs, swimming, and soaring through the sky. Despite the quiet plot and gentle tone, ample sound effects give the story pep, and the tail-pulling is a fun elephantine analogue to the way toddlers pull on a parent's pant leg or skirt hem with questions of their own. Ages 3-7. (May)

Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS--While on a walk, Mama Elephant's baby holds onto her tail and "tweaks twice" to ask a question. Little Elephant's curiosity is piqued many times along the way. The parent-child discussion is sweet and encouraging: "'Mama? What is that?' 'That is a frog.' 'What is he doing?' 'He's jumping.' 'Can I jump?' 'No, because you are not a frog. You are a little elephant. But you can stomp your foot and make a big sound.'" Little Elephant is also intrigued by the monkey, crocodile, butterfly, and bird and wonders if she, too, can swing, swim, fly, or sing. Mama's patient answers point out Little Elephant's own inimitable abilities. Ruzzier's ink and watercolor illustrations charmingly capture the youngster's imaginings as she leaps over cliffs (with worried frogs looking on) and croons to an audience of bemused birds. The gentle text is perfect for sharing with toddlers.--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Young children will enjoy following Little Elephant's fantasies....Along with the imaginative silliness, the nurturing parent-child tenderness is the core of the story."—Booklist "The pairing of Bunting's traditional text, powered by an elegant repeating structure, with Ruzzier's offbeat art is unexpectedly fabulous."—Horn Book Magazine, starred review