Armadillo Tattletale - Hardcover

This pourquoi cum cautionary tale maintains that "in the bare bones beginning, Armadillo's ears were as tall as a jackrabbit's." Any time one prairie animal confides in another, Armadillo's burro-like listening devices can be seen protruding from a bush or desert rock, vibrating as they collect secret information. With an evident gleam in his squinty eyes, Armadillo then passes the hurtful news along. He doesn't desist until he tattles on Alligator, who "nipped and snipped and clipped at Armadillo's ears until there was nothing left but tiny, teeny, itsy, weenie little ears." Ketteman (Heat Wave) justifies the punishment by listing Armadillo's repeat offenses; each injured party throws "one humongous hissy fit," and each embarrassed gossiper gives Armadillo "the what-for and the how-come and the why-not," to no avail. Graves (Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance) provides earth-tone images of arid Texas grassland, populated by critters like Rattlesnake, Blue Jay and Muskrat. He styles the title character as an obsequious, elephant-gray coward, given to sniveling when confronted. Ketteman and Graves provide a comical folktale, especially relevant to little pitchers. Ages 5-10. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-"In the bare bones beginning," Armadillo had huge, tall ears and could hear everything the other animals said. He loved to eavesdrop and then tell tales on them-tales that were a little bit twisted to make trouble. For instance, Armadillo told Blue Jay that Egret thought he was scraggly looking, and "Blue Jay squalled and he bawled, and he squawked and he gawked, and he otherwise threw one humongous hissy fit." After Armadillo made trouble for several other animals, Alligator decided to teach him an unforgettable lesson, and now, "you may hide in the bushes and listen as long as you like, but you will never, ever catch an armadillo telling tales." Bold, stylized illustrations in acrylic, ink, and colored pencil accompany the humorous, imaginative text, adding to the story's appeal-the exaggerated expressions on Armadillo's face are particularly amusing. The animals are all indigenous to Louisiana and Texas, so the book could be used to give a lighter touch to a Southern/Southwestern U.S. unit, or, then again, it could be read aloud for just plain fun, which it definitely is.
Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.