From: Christine Hill <chill>
Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 08:07:24 -0400

In Bark, George, Jules Feiffer has created a classic story time book. I think it is very difficult to write himor for preschoolers. Unless a book has the out and out slapstick of a looney-tune, they often miss the humor completely or seem puzzled by it. Their brows wrinkle and they seem to ask themselves, am I supposed to laugh at this? I usually don't even attempt funny books with two and three year olds, but Bark, George is the rare exception. Feiffer first of all takes topics of immediate accessability and interest to toddlers: mother/child relationship, animal noises and a visit to the doctor. He lets them in on the joke immediately. They all know that dogs don't say meow! The corners of their mouths crinkle. They grow more confident, that, yes, this IS supposed to be funny, on every page and throw themselves into the humor. Feiffer uses classic story structure and repetition as well as artful departures from formula and surprise. And of course, there is a perfect marriage of text and illustration. I was astonished that this did not score with the Caldecott committee. Feiffer's line is a thing of wonder, even for a cartoonist. The nuance he's capable of with the flick of a pen is amazing. Christine M. Hill Willingboro Public Library One Salem Road Willingboro, NJ 08046 chill at willingboro.org My new book! Robert Ballard: Oceanographer Who Discovered the Titanic, Enslow, 1999
Received on Sat 27 May 2000 07:07:24 AM CDT