________________ CM . . . . Volume V Number 20 . . . . June 4, 1999

cover Peek-a-Moo!

Marie Torres Cimarusti. Illustrated by Stephen Peterson.
New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books (Distributed in Canada by McClelland & Stewart Inc.), 1998.
10 pp., cloth, $14.50.
ISBN 0-525-46083-7.

Subject Heading:
Toy and movable books.

Preschool / Ages 2-4.
Review by Dave Jenkinson.

** /4

excerpt:

An oink, a moo,
a cock-a-doodle-doo.
Who's in the barnyard
playing peek-a-boo?
inside picture Who among us has not at one time or another played peek-a-boo with a young child whose face lit up with renewed surprise each time we pulled our hands away from in front of our eyes? Now that delight of play can be connected to the joy which can be found in books. Seven of this brief book's pages are largely filled by the head-and-shoulders of an animal rendered in a bright cartoon style, its face covered by its "arms." The text, which reads, "Guess who? Peek-a-", can only be completed by lifting the covering "arm" flap and revealing the animal's face and the rest of the text. In addition to the illustration's providing the "surprise" of allowing the child to see the animal's face, the text does not follow the anticipated "boo" pattern. Instead, the "answer" to the "Guess who?" question is completed by the sound the animal makes (moo!) and the name of the animal (says the COW) in case the child has not previously encountered it. In this fashion, children play peek-a-boo with a cow, pig, mouse, owl, rooster, sheep, and duck. The book concludes with a cartoon child who invites the young "reader" to become part of the game.

      Until the fold-down flaps become "loose" from repeated use, they will provide a challenge to young fingers which are not yet capable of the small motor movements necessary to lift them. Given that learning the specific "gender names" of animals is a second level in vocabulary development, do not be surprised if children, upon seeing the rooster, say "cluck-cluck! Says the chicken" rather that "cock-a-doodle-do! Says the rooster."

      A home or nursery school purchase.

Recommended.

Dave Jenkinson, who teaches courses in children's and YA literature in the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, is an excellent peek-a-boo player.

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 - JUNE 4, 1999.

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