by Jennifer Sattler (Author)
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“You are what you eat” is more than just a saying for Sylvie the flamingo. Dissatisfied with the sameness of her family when contrasted with the rest of the world, she asks her Mama why flamingos are all pink. The answer—“the little shrimp we eat are pink”—leads her to seek more colorful things to eat, with hilarious results. In the end, though, an aching belly and a feeling that she just wasn’t herself send her back to a diet of shrimp, but not without her own Sylvie-esque twist. Sylvie is one endearing flamingo, sure to capture readers’ hearts with her exuberant style. The artwork masterfully captures each of Sylvie’s emotions in both facial expression and body language. The bright colors match the beach setting, while plain backgrounds and simple details make this accessible for younger children. Sattler’s message is delivered effectively without being preachy. David Shannon’s A Bad Case of Stripes (1998) for the younger set, this will be a hit in just about every setting. (Picture book. 3-7)
PreS-Gr 2"Why are we pink?" a young flamingo asks her mother. When she learns that her coloration is a result of the shrimp she eats, Sylvie gets an idea to experiment with what she consumes. Ice cream, kites, bathing suits nothing is off-limits for the adventurous bird. Sure enough, she turns brown, looking "yummy in chocolate," and "rather stripy" after eating a towel. Kids familiar with a certain hungry caterpillar may see what's coming. Sylvie gets a stomachache. It's only when she rejoins her flock and resumes her diet of shrimp that she feels better, though there is a surprise ending that will surely induce giggles from kids. Sattler's art steals the show; the colors are eye-popping and vibrant, right to the swirling bright endpapers. As Sylvie changes colors the background changes hues as well. This title is sure to create storytime magic, especially when paired with Jeremy Tankard's Grumpy Bird (Scholastic, 2007).Laura Lutz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY
Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
When Sylvie, an inquisitive and impulsive young flamingo, asks her mother why they are pink, she's told it is because they eat shrimp. This response triggers both Sylvie's imagination and appetite. Sampling green palm leaves, purple grapes and chocolate ice cream (She thought shed look yummy in chocolate!), she turns those colors. Sylvie's nibbling become more adventurous and her transformations all the sillier: she assumes the stripes of a beach towel and the paisley print of a swimsuit. But all this wreaks havoc on her stomach. Now exhibiting various colors and patterns simultaneously, she decides to resume her shrimp diet. Sattler's punchy text and expressive paintings convey Sylvie's ample personality with panache (the leggy flamingo strikes bold and rather coquettish poses as she delights in each of the colors) against paint-smeared beachy backdrops. Though she finally decides to be true to herself, the heroine displays her spunkiness at the story's end, as her tail duplicates the stripes of the rainbow lollipop she indulges in for dessert, leaving kids with a fittingly whimsical parting image. Ages 3-6. (May)
Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Jennifer Sattler is the creator of the picture books Chick 'n' Pug, Chick 'n' Pug Meet the Dude, A Chick 'n' Pug Christmas, Chick 'n' Pug: The Love Pug, Pig Kahuna, Pig Kahuna Pirates!, Pig Kahuna: Who's That Pig, and Sylvie. She is married and has two children and two dogs, both of which are part basset hound and thus aspire to be much bigger dogs than they really are. She lives in Saratoga Springs, NY.
www.jennifersattler.com