Cheese Louise! David Michael Slater. Illustrated by Steve Cowden. North Vancouver, BC: Walrus Books/Whitecap Books, 1999/2005. 32 pp., pbk., $8.95. ISBN 978-1-55285-721-2. Subject Headings: Food-Juvenile fiction. Refrigeration-Juvenile fiction. Rescues-Juvenile fiction. Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8. Review by Helen Norrie. **/4

excerpt:

Cheese Louise stepped timidly out onto the cool kitchen floor carrying a bag clip given to her by a sack of tortillas. She trembled as she looked at Kit sleeping on his pillow next to the table. Cheese Louise sneaked toward Kit. She could hear him growling in his sleep as she crept close and closer and closer.

The characters in this picture book are all inhabitants of a refrigerator---except for the dastardly cat who threatens to attack the carton of yogurt on the table. The heroine, Cheese Louise, is a piece of Swiss cheese who becomes a hero when she puts a clip on the cat’s nose, thereby preventing her from smelling the yogurt.


     I found this a rather far-fetched and unsatisfactory story line, even for a kitchen fantasy. What cat would not object to having a plastic clip attached to his nose? How could he go back to sleep?


     However, some children may enjoy reading (or having read to them) this amusing little book which does make the point that, even if you are different (like Swiss cheese with holes), you can do brave deeds that make you accepted and proud.


     Oregon artist Steve Cowden’s pictures are cartoon style which suit the text but are not very appealing. Information at the end of the book tells us they were created by a computer using two graphic programs, Aldus Freehand and Adobe Photoshop. Possibly computer enthusiasts at higher grade levels will enjoy seeing what these programs can do.

Recommended with reservations.

Helen Norrie is a former teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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