CM Magazine: Elliot's Shipwreck. (An Elliot Moose Story).

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 10 . . . . January 19, 2001

Elliot's Shipwreck. (An Elliott Moose Story).

Andrea Beck.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2000.
32 pp., cloth, $12.95.
ISBN 1-55074-698-7.

Subject Headings:
Shipwrecks-Juvenile fiction.
Boats-Juvenile fiction.
Friendship-Juvenile fiction.

Preschool - grade 2 / Ages 4 - 7.

Review by Helen Arkos.

*** /4

excerpt:

Elliot and Socks were putting their ship in the water when Amy rushed out of the house.
"May I go, too?" she called. "I'd love a boat ride."
Elliot and Socks looked at each other.
"We're sorry, Amy, but our ship isn't big enough for three," said Elliot.

Elliot Moose and his friend, Socks the monkey, decide to go on a sailing adventure. They find appropriate attire in the costume box, assemble a ship from various findings in the kitchen cupboards, and launch themselves on a journey of adventure. The ensuing events are told in all seriousness, but the illustrations belie the truth. The ocean is actually a pond in a backyard garden. The ship is actually a raft made out of a plastic kitchen carton and a cutting board with a wooden spoon for a mast. After a morning of exploring the vast blue seas, meeting pirates and whales, the duo stop for their picnic lunch. They notice that their raft is sinking, and they desperately require the assistance of Amy, the friend they left behind.

Andrea Beck's characterization of Elliot, Socks and Amy comes from her own interest and experience in designing plush toys. The illustrations, richly drawn in vivid pencil crayon colours, are charming. Imagination clashes with reality to develop the humour in this playful story about friendship.

Recommended.

Helen Arkos is a teacher-librarian at John Pritchard School in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - January 19, 2001.