Nora's Surprise - Hardcover

Ichikawa, Satomi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399225358 ISBN 13: 9780399225352

Publisher: Philomel Books, 1994

Synopsis

Nora is delighted to attend a tea party given by her friends the geese, but she is upset by the behavior of their other guest, Benjy the sheep, who is too big to come in the front door, too heavy to climb a tree, and so hungry that he gobbles up all the treats.

About this title

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-K-Stunning artwork illustrates a problematic story about a feast turned free-for-all. The tale begins when Nora accepts an invitation to a garden party hosted by two geese. There she meets Benjy the sheep, who eats everything in sight, including her gift of flowers and all of the cucumber sandwiches and raspberry jam. The child gives Benjy the business several times, telling him he is greedy, fat, and ruining the party. In the end, after he is shorn, he apologizes and gives Nora a sweater, allowing her to conclude that "He was a kind, generous sheep after all." Fatness, or bulky wool, and overeating are difficulties for Benjy, but eating flowers is doing what comes sheep-naturally! Only when the group can use him does he gain acceptance. He's not so much ungenerous, as he is out-of-bounds. Ichikawa's watercolors are masterful. Each figure, whether animal, toy, or person, is full of life, humor, and expression in every gesture. Readers will walk right into her landscapes and taste each morsel of food. Small wonder the party-goers pitch into the platters when "Benjy stuck his head into the cucumber sandwiches." A tough call overall: story conflict a bit off-target, but a perfect 10 for the paintings!-Jacqueline Elsner, Athens Regional Library, GA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Philomel Books
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0399225358
• ISBN 13: 9780399225352
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 1