Review of The Elephant(s) in the Room
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Hazel Arnaiz
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Review of The Elephant(s) in the Room
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Elephant(s) in the Room" by Denny Laake and Monica Laake Beavers.]
Despite their very different personalities, Sammy the Weasel and his friend Kramer the Dog like going on adventures together. One sunny day, Kramer had an odd feeling that there were elephants inside the house. So the pals played detectives, hunting for clues in every corner of the house. Will their investigation bring them to the elephants?
The Elephant(s) in the Room is a stand-alone children's book by Denny Laake and Monica Laake Beavers. It is part of a series about the adventures of a weasel and a dog. In this installment, the detective adventure provides a fun introduction to idiomatic expressions. The funny plot and eye-catching visuals will draw in young readers. Their humorous investigative skills and handling of the clues will make the audience chuckle.
In addition, the book discusses tolerance and inclusivity. Despite opposing personalities, Sammy and Kramer are close friends who enjoy each other's company. They have opposite perspectives on the same set of events. The book helps children understand others who are different from them. Similarly, it teaches kids that, despite personality differences, positive interactions and relationships are achievable.
Words and visuals work together to produce a satisfying reading experience. The excellent editing contributes to this. I found no grammatical or spelling errors. Except for the idioms that are part of the story's intention, the words are simple and appropriate for children. The text is also readable. They do not overlap on the images, and the colors stand out against the background. The illustrations by Monica Laake Beavers were my favorite part of the book. The characters remind me of playing hide-and-seek, a game many children can identify with. The images captured their expressions as they tried not to be noticed but could not help but peep out from their hiding places. They also appear out of place in their hiding spots, adding to the hilarity.
In this book, children learn about idioms and other figures of speech. There are phrases like "barking at the wrong tree" and "turning blue," to mention a few. "Weasel" and "weaseled" are figurative words with unpleasant connotations. I appreciated that the story's main character is a weasel. It is an opportunity to reconsider the animal's reputation. I recommend incorporating additional reading material for parents or adult readers about why and how weasels got their nasty image. Adults can then explain the context to the kids. A glossary of the idioms used in the story is also a great addition as a reference.
Despite the complexity of the idioms and figures of speech, the book is appropriate for children aged six to ten. Kids above the age of ten might prefer an elaborate adventure and plot. Children who appreciate animal-themed detective stories will enjoy it. It might also be a pleasant reading assignment to teach students about figures of speech.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. The storyline and graphics complement each other to provide a compelling, informative, and fun story. I see no reason to deduct a star, so it receives five out of five.
******
The Elephant(s) in the Room
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Despite their very different personalities, Sammy the Weasel and his friend Kramer the Dog like going on adventures together. One sunny day, Kramer had an odd feeling that there were elephants inside the house. So the pals played detectives, hunting for clues in every corner of the house. Will their investigation bring them to the elephants?
The Elephant(s) in the Room is a stand-alone children's book by Denny Laake and Monica Laake Beavers. It is part of a series about the adventures of a weasel and a dog. In this installment, the detective adventure provides a fun introduction to idiomatic expressions. The funny plot and eye-catching visuals will draw in young readers. Their humorous investigative skills and handling of the clues will make the audience chuckle.
In addition, the book discusses tolerance and inclusivity. Despite opposing personalities, Sammy and Kramer are close friends who enjoy each other's company. They have opposite perspectives on the same set of events. The book helps children understand others who are different from them. Similarly, it teaches kids that, despite personality differences, positive interactions and relationships are achievable.
Words and visuals work together to produce a satisfying reading experience. The excellent editing contributes to this. I found no grammatical or spelling errors. Except for the idioms that are part of the story's intention, the words are simple and appropriate for children. The text is also readable. They do not overlap on the images, and the colors stand out against the background. The illustrations by Monica Laake Beavers were my favorite part of the book. The characters remind me of playing hide-and-seek, a game many children can identify with. The images captured their expressions as they tried not to be noticed but could not help but peep out from their hiding places. They also appear out of place in their hiding spots, adding to the hilarity.
In this book, children learn about idioms and other figures of speech. There are phrases like "barking at the wrong tree" and "turning blue," to mention a few. "Weasel" and "weaseled" are figurative words with unpleasant connotations. I appreciated that the story's main character is a weasel. It is an opportunity to reconsider the animal's reputation. I recommend incorporating additional reading material for parents or adult readers about why and how weasels got their nasty image. Adults can then explain the context to the kids. A glossary of the idioms used in the story is also a great addition as a reference.
Despite the complexity of the idioms and figures of speech, the book is appropriate for children aged six to ten. Kids above the age of ten might prefer an elaborate adventure and plot. Children who appreciate animal-themed detective stories will enjoy it. It might also be a pleasant reading assignment to teach students about figures of speech.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. The storyline and graphics complement each other to provide a compelling, informative, and fun story. I see no reason to deduct a star, so it receives five out of five.
******
The Elephant(s) in the Room
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
