Seeing Red. Robert Munsch. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko. Toronto, ON: North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 2013. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.99 (pbk.), $19.99 (hc). ISBN 978-1-4431-2446-1 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-4431-2445-4 (hc.). Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8. Review by Kate Hachborn. **** /4

excerpt:

"Arie," said Alex, "your hair is fantastic! You are the only kid in the whole school with red hair! What is the secret?"

"Well," said Arie, "it really IS a secret and I am NOT supposed to tell anyone, but I will tell you because you are my best friend.

"I was not born with red hair. I turned it red by eating tomatoes. Lots of tomatoes! I eat ten big, red tomatoes for breakfast every day!"

Arie and Alex are best friends, and reminiscent of Judy Blume's Freckle Juice, Alex wants something that he just can't have – red hair. Though the method Arie suggests to get red hair is gross, Alex is dedicated to the process until he realizes that he has been fooled.

      Robert Munsch is a familiar name in Canadian children's literature, and those who know his books will not be disappointed. Munsch's voice can be heard throughout the text with outlandish exclamations and hilarity ensuing in the plot. The text is repetitious enough that readers will be able to predict what will come next and join in the refrain. Alex's seeking revenge on Arie could make parents uncomfortable; however, it is not malicious revenge, and the boys come together in the end. Seeing Red could be used for talking about friendship, choices, and realistic wants.

      Michael Martchenko's exaggerated illustrations pair well with Munsch's text. All text appears on a single page with illustrations opposite in a straight-forward format. Of interesting note, when the boys are at school they wear yarmulkes, incorporating Jewish heritage without outwardly addressing it.

Highly Recommended.

Kate Hachborn is a library technician at the W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, ON.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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