________________ CM . . . . Volume VI Number 7 . . . . November 26, 1999

cover Yucka Drucka Droni

Eugenia and Vladimir Radunsky.
New York, NY: Scholastic Press (Distributed in Canada by Scholastic Canada Ltd.), 1998.
30 pp., cloth, $21.99.
ISBN 0-590-09837-3.

Subject Headings:
Brothers and sisters-Fiction.
Family life-Fiction.
Stories in rhyme.

Kindergarten - grade 4 / Ages 5 - 9.
Review by Janice Foster.

** /4

excerpt:

Yucka-Druck and Zippa-Drippa-Shuck-Shuckmut, And Yucka-Drucka-Droni and Zippa-Drippa-Limpomponi?
image Tongue twisters allow readers of all ages to play with the magic of sounds, words and nonsense. The authors of Yucka Drucka Droni, who describe themselves as a great grandson of Humpty Dumpty and his wife, a famous ventriloquist, create a book which entices its readers to enter a colourful reading experience. However, the absurdity of the pictures, accompanied by the nonsensically contrived names, gives the book a Monty Pythonesque flavor. The appeal of this style for young readers is questionable. The text needs to be read aloud to experience the intended tongue twister. Despite the large font, young readers will experience some difficulty with words such as "scrawny" and the long, hyphenated names.
     The full page illustrations, frequently double page spreads, use a solid, brightly coloured background to display interesting arrangements of cutouts. This collage effect contributes to a colourful reading experience. However, it is the use of both nonsense language together with nonsense pictures, such as a baby with a top hat balancing on the nose of a pig, that might result in limited appeal to a young audience.

Recommended with reservations.

Janice Foster is an Early Years ELA Coordinator in Fort Garry School Division, 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

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - November 26, 1999.

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