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CM . . . .
Volume VII Number 1 . . . . September 8, 2000
excerpt: "Cool! Yes!" She thumbed through the pages. "Look! It tells about weather, soil, and even how to plant things. And the illustrations have so many details. Wow! On page fourteen, it even tells exactly the plants I need for a butterfly garden." Zoie looked into Ms. Maduke's bright grey eyes. "Oh, thank you so much." 
Zoie is going into grade four when her mother announces that they are leaving the West
Coast to return to Saskatoon. When she arrives at her new school, she suggests the idea of
a butterfly garden to the school principal. With great enthusiasm, the school's students
undertake the project, but, until they are eventually caught, there are problems with
vandals sabotaging the garden.
The text for this first chapter book is dully written, and the conversations, which include didactic details, seem stilted. There is little tension or character development, and the only moment of suspense occurs when the vandals' identity is uncovered. The graphic presentation of the book is unattractive. The humans are awkwardly drawn with poor proportions, and, in each picture, Zoie looks different. The overall design, with its oddly placed chapter headings and pagination, gives the impression of a desktop published book. Not recommended. Lorraine Douglas is Head of Children's Services, Winnipeg Public Library.
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - September 8, 2000. AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | ORDER | CMARCHIVE | HOME
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