Synopsis
Lizzy is never afraid when Skunk, her loyal puppet friend, is with her, yet the day Skunk goes missing, Lizzy must muster all her courage in order to go back over all her steps alone and find her dear friend.
Reviews
PreSchool-Grade 2-This tale of a dungaree-clad, mop-topped girl and her black-and-white puppet alter ego has great child appeal. Lizzy has counted on Skunk to help her survive her fear of the dark, spiders, appearing onstage, etc., until he disappears, thanks to the work of a quietly mischievous cat. Then the young heroine forgets her fears and searches dark and spider-infested corners for her pal, only to find that he is stranded high up in a tree. In front of a crowd of onlookers, she makes a daring rescue and is reunited with her friend. "Life is wonderful," announces the jubilant Lizzy. "But scary, too," rejoins Skunk. "Don't worry," she replies. "I'll take care of you." Watercolor vignettes and full-page paintings show the appealing young protagonist as she faces her fears. This satisfying title will work for storytimes although some of the pictures are a bit small for large groups. Much of the story is told through Fitzpatrick's vivid watercolors, including the marmalade cat's misdeeds and Lizzy's "lost skunk" flyers. A cozy, well-executed choice for sharing with a special friend.
Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AK
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In her amiable debut picture book as both author and artist, Fitzpatrick (illus. of The Long March) introduces a wild-haired girl who is nearly inseparable from her alter ego and hand puppet, Skunk. While Skunk stresses the positive, the child expresses her anxieties; to Skunk's question "Isn't life wonderful?" the child responds, "But scary." As long as the puppet is on her hand, Lizzy forgets her fears and manages such feats as zipping down the sidewalk on in-line skates and shaking off stage fright to perform in the school show. But when Skunk disappears, she has to summon up courage on her own. Fitzpatrick's pictures let readers in on the secret of the puppet's whereabouts, as Lizzy searches for her beloved companion under the bed (even though it's dark there) and in the attic (even though there are spiders there). In a satisfying if predictable role reversal at tale's end, Skunk--whom Lizzy bravely rescues from a tree branch--admits that life can be scary while his young owner promises, "I'll take care of you." A reassuring story with an upbeat message about overcoming fears. Ages 3-6. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Lizzy and her handpuppet Skunk make a fine pair. Lizzy is scared of a lot of things--the dark, spiders, falling down on her inline skates, making mistakes--but Skunk isn't. Spring-fresh watercolors tell the story in sunlit hues: a small image of Lizzy alone, afraid, facing a full page of Lizzy and Skunk doing things together. But one day, Skunk disappears (alert children will realize that Lizzy's ginger cat has put Skunk in a tree), and Lizzy must face all her fears to rescue him. Her rescue is witnessed by the entire neighborhood, and the final double-spread image of the girl and the puppet in a garden full of lavender, daisies, and poppies is sweet, indeed. The minimal text conveys powerful emotion and release in very few words: it truthfully shows how children may invest a beloved toy with the mastery that they are striving to achieve themselves. GraceAnne A. DeCandido
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