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CASTLE CHAOS

Jean-Pierre Guillet
Illustrated by Gilles Tibo; Translated by Frances Morgan Waterloo (Que.), Quintin Publishers, 1993. 32pp, laminated boards
ISBN 2-89435-022-8 (laminated boards) $12.95, ISBN 289435-0236 (paper) $5.95. (Ecological Tales). Distributed by University of Toronto Press. Also available in French as La fête est à l'eau! CIP


Subject Headings:
Ecology-Juvenile fiction.
Water pollution-Juvenile fiction.


Kindergarten-Grade 6 / Ages 5-11

Reviewed by Hugh A. Cook

Volume 21 Number 6
1993 November


This is the second ecological fairy-tale by Jean-Pierre Guillet. It is very similar in style and content to the first book in the series, The Magic Powder.

By the end of this second book the reader should be aware that Mook Chook, the head gardener to his majesty the king, should never have been retained in that capacity. He advises the king to replace the natural vegetation that surrounds the royal lake with stone and cement. The king is readily persuaded by thoughts of a terrific view and a statue of himself to be erected on a man-made terrace. This poor horticultural advice causes an ecological disaster for the lake. Only through the somewhat bizarre efforts of the young princess, Clementine, is King Pip persuaded to restore the lake to its natural state.

The reader is led to understand that the destruction of the flora that naturally surrounds a lake will likely allow excess fertilizers from adjacent fields and gardens to seep into the water and upset its ecological balance. This will cause severe problems for the animals and plants that exist within the lake.

Castle Chaos is an enjoyable ecological tale where Guillet and illustrator Gilles Tibo encourage readers to use their imagination. The beautiful air-brush technique employed by the illustrator creates an enchanting setting for this modern fairy-tale.

Castle Chaos would be a useful addition to the natural science area of any elementary library.


Hugh A. Cook in Maple, Ontario, is a retired North York elementary librarian
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