What’s That Awful Smell? by Heather Tekavec and illustrator, Margaret Spengler is another book where the lovely, bright illustrations are what first attracted me to the book.
But onto the story . . .
One hot afternoon, Dog heads to the barn where he knows it’s cooler. But what he isn’t expecting is the terrible smell that’s there. Dog is sniffing around the barn seeking out the source of the odor as other farmyard animals appear all asking the same question, “What’s that AWFUL smell?”
When Dog finds a piglet at the back of the barn, he’s sure he’s found the cause. So Dog and the other animals set about making the piglet smell better. They cover it with flowers, give it a mud bath, spread it with sweet strawberries but to no avail. The animals decide that staying outside is the only thing that they can do so they all huddle in a patch of shade.
But then Cat comes along and sheds some light on the situation leading to a delightful, surprise ending that is sure to wrinkle a few noses and induce some giggles.
Little kids will have fun imitating the expressions on the faces of this book’s characters and will be amused by the antics of the farmyard critters.
Recommended for Preschool through Grade 2.
