Denys Cazet

I absolutely adore this story. Cazet's language is lyrical and figurative without being overbearing; he certainly does not dumb down his language for the younger readers. I am a big fan of uncontrolled vocabulary. Further, the illustrations not on reinforce the text, but they extend it with more visual narratives. For example: while the protagonist tells his mother about his first day of school, he leaves out many details that we get to see, such as a child animal giving the teacher advice show more like "never spit on your shoes," and everyone taking a nap (one inside of a desk) while the teacher reads them a story. show less

This is one of my favorites by Cazet. Even though I teach "polite words" instead of "magic words." But I love that there are jokes that will go over the littlest heads but parents will appreciate. And I love that Elvis actually thinks he brings up the sun. (Does that mean that each farm that has a rooster has its own sun? Well, never mind logic.)

3.5 stars, rounded down because I, personally, didn't appreciate some of the potty humor. I still find it amazing that a pair of silly costumes can transform these gals into just about anything. Also, I have to assume parents are sharing this with their emergent readers, so the opportunity to teach about "red fish" (red herrings) isn't lost.

I'm too squeamish for all the disgusting things depicted in the scribbly pictures. But the story is a hoot, and not too scary. Oversize, so libraries may not be pleased to shelve it.

The only unanswered question is, how did the old man die? I get the impression that his wife may have gotten fed up and she killed him, because, after all, she buried him herself and then ran away.