Scarecrow - Hardcover

Grade 3-6-- A visually delightful title with enough meat to nourish the curious, and a bibliography of titles to guide more serious researchers. This eye-opening introduction examines scarecrows throughout history and their modern counterparts, depicting an impressive variety in both full - color paintings and pen-and-ink drawings. The chatty chapters gather interesting tidbits to support the illustrations. Information is occasionally repeated, but this adds to the conversational tone of the text. The final chapter, complete with a cautionary note to ``Please ask an adult to help you,'' tells children how to make a scarecrow, but offers little hope that it will actually scare crows. While young readers will enjoy hearing some of the chapters read aloud, the vocabulary will daunt all but the best of readers. Students who can handle the text may be put off by the picture-book format. Clever teachers and librarians should find ample ways to use this addition to autumn, Halloween, and/or gardening literature. --Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Just in time for autumn harvests comes this nifty nonfiction picture book that sings the praises--and history--of scarecrows. Eleven brief (mostly single-page) chapters illuminate the facts and lore behind this practical crop guardian. Readers learn interesting tidbits such as: British children were once hired to chase the birds away from the fields, and that "live bird scarers" are still used in parts of India and the Middle East. Various types of gardens are mentioned and directions for constructing a scarecrow are included. Littlewood has placed her bounteous information into a singularly pleasing format. Each spread consists of a sumptuous watercolor painting facing a page containing text and complementary black-and-white cross-hatched drawings. Despite this becoming design, readers at the appropriate age level for the material may be put off by the picture-book format, which generally appeals to younger children. This thoughtful approach shouldn't be lost in the shuffle. Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.