Phoebe's Fabulous Father

Campbell, Louisa

ISBN 10: 0152009965 ISBN 13: 9780152009960

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 1996

Synopsis

As she and her mother run errands around town before the family's big concert, a young girl comes to realize how special her father is

About this title

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Phoebe and her family are musicians. In fact, Phoebe's father is known as a giant in the music world-so much so that Phoebe is more than a little envious of the time he spends practicing his cello instead of being with her and her mother. On a Saturday morning before a big concert, Phoebe and Mrs. Saurus run errands, starting at the laundromat and ending up at the library. The child comes to realize that Eddie Saurus gave up quite a bit of fame to play with his family instead of making the world-famous records he used to make. This changes her whole perspective on how she sees her colossal father. Only through the pictures at the end do readers learn that he is, indeed, a dinosaur, although hindsight shows that a few clues were there all along. The illustrations are done in chalk pastels and acrylics. Children will find lots to observe in the brightly colored pictures. The artwork has a nice contrast with shadows and reflections that give the illustrations a luminous quality. The characters are drawn with such expression that they come to life on the page. This book will give anyone a chuckle, but it also has an important message attached to it: people are more than they appear at first glance.
Kathy Mitchell, Gadsden County Public Library, FL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Phoebe and her mother are running a few errands before the concert they will give that night with Phoebe's father. Phoebe complains that her father is forever practicing, perfecting his cello work, and ``Why couldn't he be more like other dads?'' Observant readers, by this time, will have begun to notice that there is something funny in the works as the energetic mother and daughter proceed through their rounds. There are small hints of dinosaurs everywhere, so by the time Phoebe and her mother pedal up their driveway, readers will be curious to know just who--or what- -Phoebe's dad is. The statement that he abandoned a career as a world-famous soloist ``because he'd rather stay home and play music with us'' will seem incidental by the time it's uttered; a glimpse of the audience that night gives readers the real picture. Starr Taylor provides idiosyncratic illustrations--with Phoebe and her mother swooping and dancing through every errand--that make the guessing game fun. (Picture book. 3-8) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0152009965
• ISBN 13: 9780152009960
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Illustrator: Taylor Bridget Starr