Tooter's Stinky Wish. Brian Cretney. Illustrated by Peggy Collins. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2011. 32 pp., hardcover, $18.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-165-1. Subject Headings: Animals-Juvenile fiction. Skunks-Juvenile fiction. Friendship-Juvenile fiction. Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 4-7. Review by Reesa Cohen. *** /4

excerpt:

Tooter was no ordinary Skunk. Sure, he looked like one:

Black Fur. White stripe. Long Tail.

But Tooter didn't stink like an ordinary skunk. In fact, Tooter didn't stink

at all - which really stinks if you happen to be a skunk.

Whoever heard of a stinkless Skunk? In this picture book, readers are introduced to an animal that looks like a skunk, but one that simply could not produce a smelly spray as other skunks do. And that's Tooter's predicament. Frustrated, Tooter turns to books, research, experiments and a diet change, hoping to reverse this unhappy time, but with no success.

     Spying a shooting star, Tooter makes a wish.

I wish to stink, I wish to spray. I wish to scare some beast away.

     Ridiculed by the forest animals, Tooter is ready to give up. Surprisingly, a tiny bug comes to his aid and teaches him some important life lesson involving perspective, a different way of looking at problems; perseverance, not giving up too soon; patience, giving things time to happen and finally, when threatened by a fox, the most important lesson of all, partnership.

      Brian Cretney has created an original story that can be enjoyed on many levels by young readers, but it also serves as a useful tool for classroom teachers to give important lessons about character building. In addition, the book includes facts about skunks and other stinky animals, a game, a web site, helpful hints to deal with skunk sprays and even drawing activities.

      Peggy Collins art work is colourful, dynamic and animated. The lighthearted illustrations are done in gouache, pencil crayon and ink and serve the story well by providing energy and humour.

Recommended.

Reesa Cohen is a retired Instructor of Children's Literature and Information Literacy at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB.

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

Copyright � the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

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