Flop Ear - Softcover

Genechten, Guido Van; Van Benechten, Guido

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764117629 ISBN 13: 9780764117626

Publisher: B E S Pub Co, 2001

Synopsis

He's an endearing little rabbit with one ear that simply refuses to stand up straight--the way every other rabbit's ears always stand up. That's why everybody calls him Flop Ear. Kids who read this story and smile over the pictures will think he's cute. But Flop Ear doesn't think so. Flop Ear is sad because he isn't the same as all the other rabbits. "Lop-ear Flop Ear!" they laugh at him. This charming story describes Flop Ear's humorous attempts to make his ear stand up straight. He wants to be like everyone else. But at last he realizes that sometimes, it's just as good to be different. Full-color illustrations on every page of this charming book. (Ages 3-6)

About this title

Review:

With this sweet gift set, young kids can cuddle up with an adorable stuffed bunny and read all about accepting differences. Flop-Ear the bunny, like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, has a problem. All the other rabbits laugh and call him names because one of his ears flops down, in spite of all his earnest efforts: wedging a carrot in it, wrapping it up with bandages, or attaching it to a clothespin on the end of a fishing pole. It takes some mature contemplation (and a trip to a wise doctor) to convince him that it's okay to be different.

Guido Van Genechten's whimsical illustrations are tremendously appealing; the story, however, is a bit weak. The ending, especially, is perplexing: Flop-Ear returns to his tormenting peers, who admit they've been bored without having him around (to tease, presumably). When they see that their lop-eared pal has stopped playing the victim, they suddenly want to be just like him, thus defeating the message that there's nothing wrong with being different. Still, the cute pictures and plush toy will provide a great starting place for discussions about differences. Teeny-tiny print, though--get out your magnifying glass! (Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal:

PreS-Gr 2-This bunny is worried because one of his ears flops down. He endures the teasing of the other rabbits and tries all sorts of remedies, none of which work. He splints his ear to a carrot, then to a stick; wraps it up stiffly with a bandage, and even tries tying a helium balloon to his wayward ear. All these attempts bring failure to Flop-Ear and hilarity to the animals watching him. However, after the doctor tells him that he is normal, just different, he is able to accept his appearance. He even goes so far as to attach a carrot to his floppy ear to weigh it down further and the other rabbits do the same. Although the main character is adorably portrayed with thick black outlines and an open smiling face, this superficial, easily resolved story doesn't hold up. Franz Brandenberg's Otto Is Different (1985; o.p.), Kevin Henkes's Chrysanthemum (1991, both Greenwillow), Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Jennifer Jean, the Cross-Eyed Queen (Carolrhoda, 1993; o.p.), and David McKee's Elmer (Lothrop, 1989) are better-told tales about differences or disadvantages overcome.

Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: B E S Pub Co
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0764117629
• ISBN 13: 9780764117626
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32