Spork - Hardcover

Maclear, Kyo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1553377362 ISBN 13: 9781553377368

Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2010

Synopsis

His mum is a spoon. His dad is a fork. And he's a bit of both. He's Spork! Spork sticks out in the regimented world of the cutlery drawer. The spoons think he's too pointy, while the forks find him too round. He never gets chosen to be at the table at mealtimes until one day a very messy ? thing arrives in the kitchen who has never heard of cutlery customs. Will Spork finally find his place at the table? This "multi-cutlery" tale is a humorous and lively commentary on individuality and tolerance. Its high-spirited illustrations capture the experience and emotions of anyone who has ever wondered about their place in the world.

About this title

About the Authors

Kyo Maclear is an award-winning writer and novelist. Her first book for children, Spork, has received a number of honors, including a 2011 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award nomination. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Isabelle Arsenault has illustrated several children's books, including Spork, My Letter to the World and Other Poems and Mr. Gaugin's Heart. She has received many awards for her work, including the Governor General's Award for Illustration. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Reviews

Gr 1-4-Spork is the offspring of a spoon mum and a fork dad, and he feels like a misfit. He watches despondently from the drawer while the other silverware is put on the table. One day, a "messy thing" with no table manners arrives, causing panic among the utensils. Spork's self-esteem is assuaged at last when he turns out to be just what the baby needs to feed itself. While the positive portrayal of a "mixed-race" character is heartwarming, the story's climax actually weakens the metaphor. Spork accepts himself only after receiving the external validation of being used by the infant. Despite the love of parents who think he's perfect, he never really learns to love himself. That said, the lighthearted storytelling and whimsical mixed-media illustrations will draw readers in, and adults will find the book to be a useful conversation starter for the topics of race, difference, and acceptance.-Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Young Spork—Mum’s a spoon and Dad’s a fork—is a little bit of both, creating endless sorting problems in the kitchen. In an attempt to fit in, Spork dons a hat to look more “spoon-ish ” and later a crown to fit in with the forks, but neither leads to approval. Finally, a messy baby arrives in the human household—spilling, flinging, and dripping with abandon—and Spork turns out to be the perfect eating utensil. Maclear, the daughter of a British father and Japanese mother, writes knowingly of cultural hybridity, and her message of acceptance will resonate, particularly with parents. Arsenault’s digitally assembled, mixed-media illustrations, rendered in gray tones highlighted in red, feature a host of anthropomorphized kitchen utensils sure to delight young listeners. Particularly clever are Spork’s fantasies of other combos: a mixer-juicer and a rolling pin–corkscrew, for example. Although the youngest may miss the text’s interracial implications, they’re sure to catch Mum and Dad’s assurances that Spork is perfect just the way he is. Pair with Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Spoon (2009). Preschool-Grade 2. --Kay Weisman

Edition details

• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1553377362
• ISBN 13: 9781553377368
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Arsenault Isabelle
• Number of pages: 32