From School Library Journal:
PreSchool-Grade 2-A pourquoi story of how the silver baboon came to look the way it does. When a star comes loose from the sky and gets tangled in a tree, the moon asks for help in freeing it. Animals, birds, and insects attempt to untangle its long, cometlike tail, but only a brown baboon's "quick nimble fingers" succeed. As a reward, the moon gives him a coat "as silver as moonlight." The grateful sun, who can now begin the day, bestows upon the baboon a face "as warm as sunlight." Field's evocative, poetic text is perfectly matched with her luminous, full-color paintings, done in what appears to be layers of thin acrylic washes highlighted with gouache and chalk and oil pastels. Although the stylized illustrations are quite accomplished, they have a relaxed, almost naive quality. The characters have distinct, sometimes mischievous personalities. This picture book debut is a natural for sharing aloud in a story-time setting.
Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist:
Ages 2-5. This original pourquoi tale explains why the baboon has a silver coat. It's all because he was the only animal clever enough to free a fallen star so that the night could end and the day begin. Reminiscent of the art of Jane Ray (but with more subdued hues), the large-scale, childlike, whimsical paintings of beasts offer unusual experiences on perspective. Written with simple rhythms, this is a lovely bedtime storybook from a British first-time author-illustrator. Julie Corsaro
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