Tackylocks and the Three Bears by Helen Lester (2002) is a funny story about penguins who put on a play for a class of very young, fuzzy penguins. Five of the six penguins act as announcers and the bears. A more enthusiastic and less conventional penguin named Tacky has to play the role of Goldilocks. The penguins learn their lines but seem not to have had a full dress rehearsal. Tacky stumbles through his scenes like a veteran slapstick comedian. The young audience, bored by the bears’ careful performances, laugh and cheer for Tacky. The last page reads “Tacky was an odd bird, but a nice bird to have around.” The illustrations by Lynn Munsinger are perfect. They bring home the hilarity.
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Frederick by Leo Lionni values the imagination. While Frederick's family gathers food supplies for the winter, Frederick sit... -
Molly and the Sword by Robert Shlasko, (1996) is unoriginal and tedious. Molly is a good daughter who demonstrates qualities one mi...