Lucky Russell - Hardcover

An endearing feline hero, perched atop a tree stump on this picture book's jacket, fixes his audience with a disarmingly direct gaze. Little ones will readily take to this beleaguered protagonist and his "downright embarrassing" predicament: a nameless girl on a farm, it seems, has taken to wheeling Russell about in a doll buggy, dressing him in a baby bonnet and insisting on his thus prettified presence at afternoon teas. Russell has had it, and makes the rounds of the various animals, begging each of them, "I need an important job." The ensuing sequence of kid-pleasing repetition consists of each creature letting the frazzled feline know why he's not suited to any of their tasks. A stern Doberman, for example, announces, "You gotta have a mean look and a low growl to protect the farm." As he did in his illustrations for Grandpa's Song , Sneed employs skewed perspectives to excellent effect. His barnyard cast manages to be both lifelike and winningly human, without ever seeming self-conscious or cute. Russell himself makes a charmingly persistent foil on this farm excursion; youngsters will cheer when he finally wins his eponymous appellation. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Russell is a young kitten who wants to do something important rather than have pretend tea parties with his owner's young daughter. He makes the rounds of the farm animals, learns what they do, and the reasons he isn't suited to any of their tasks. The farmer then attends one of the tea parties and declares, `` `And you, little fella, are the luckiest critter on the farm.' '' One look at the final picture of the little girl's face as she snuggles Russell reveals that they are both quite content with his special status. This peaceful, timeless story is set on an old-style farm that utilized horse power and hand operations. Through slightly wordy repetition, all of the animals and their functions are introduced. The illustrations pull the story together and make it a good choice for group sharing. From the kitten's imploring, clear blue eyes to the serious, aloof, ridiculing, or understanding expressions of the various creatures, children see all from Russell's short-legged point of view and perspective. Both readers and Russell come away with a sense of a job well done. --Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.