A Giraffe Did One

In the tradition of Everyone Poops, Pallotta's gently mischievous story features cute animals that share one thing in common: occasional flatulence. "A flock of birds flew by. OK, who did it? We'll never know which one it was." Meanwhile, a fox, seen peering coyly around a tree, "was sneaky when she did it," and a frog, who stares up at readers with a guilty smile and a few bubbles in the water around him, "was slimy when he did it." Mai-Wyss's pale watercolors imbue the animals with more than a little anthropomorphism, with many wearing adorable "Who, me?" expressions. If readers are unclear about what the animals did (it's never specified), there will be little doubt when, in the final spread, a human boy "did one too," and his mother asks him to say "Excuse me." Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

K-Gr 2--Without actually mentioning the words "fart," "gas," or "toot," Pallotta cleverly writes about the topic that will guarantee giggles from kids everywhere. From the moment they read the title, they will wonder: Did what? The anticipation continues throughout as animals of all types (insects, sea creatures, forest animals, etc.) are caught "doing one." After the first few repetitions, children will naturally start to guess what the animals all have in common. Hints in the illustrations (monkeys laughing sheepishly and a lion winking knowingly) and in the rhythmic text ("A turtle did one. It made a little bubble.") clue readers in and perfectly build up to the last page where a boy and his mother are sitting in their living room. The boy "does one," too, and his mom reminds him to excuse himself. Appealing watercolor and colored-pencil artwork that shows the animals in their natural habitats accompanies the rhyming text. While not a book for those interested in the science of flatulence, this title makes a fun read-aloud for youngsters. The message is clear--everyone does it (even animals!)--and affirms the proper way to react when it happens. Have this book on hand for parents to share with their children, and pair it with Shinta Cho's The Gas We Pass (Kane/Miller, 1994).--Karinn Figdore, William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, PA