SERIES THURSDAY: Tillie & Clementine by Dan Killeen
ABOUT THE BOOK
Tillie and Clementine go with their parents to spend a fun day exploring the zoo. They happen to be there, however, on the same day a daddy gorilla and his baby daughter sneak out of their enclosure to do the same thing! At one point the two dads get distracted, accidentally grab the wrong daughter, and hoist them up for a piggyback ride. Soon Daddy is walking around with a baby gorilla on his back, and the big silverback gorilla is walking around with Clementine on his. How will the crazy Zoo Switcheroo get resolved? This richly illustrated, whimsical tale shows how parents and kids, whether gorilla or human, can be easily distracted with perilous yet funny consequences. Until near the end, no one in the story is aware of the monumental mix up that has occurred. Young readers therefore have a privileged perspective as they know something the characters in the book do not. Expressive, humorous illustrations entice kids to read and reread Tillie & Clementine stories, and in the process youngsters may broaden their reading skills. These books do contain the occasional challenging word, but kids can derive the meaning from context clues in the nearby copy and artwork.
REVIEW
Tillie & Clementine are two adorable sisters who don't always get along. When Tillie and Clementine go to the zoo with their parents they get into an argument that leads to an unexpected switch. While the text is more than adequate it could have used a bit more editing (too much use of the word fun) it's the illustrations that are the real draw here. Reminding me of the old Dennis the Menace comic strip, the cartoon style of illustrations are bound to draw children in. The plot is certainly giggle-inducing and the main characters are believable and easy for young children to relate to.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Tillie and Clementine live with their parents in an old brick house down in Benton Park. One night Mommy has to go to a neighborhood meeting, leaving Daddy in charge for a few hours. He manages to make the girls dinner, get them ready for bed, and tell them a thrilling bedtime story. A little later, though, the girls are awakened by strange noises coming from just outside their window! What could it be and what will they do? Noises in the Night contains a story within a story when Daddy tells the girls a bedtime tale about two princesses. For about the middle ten pages we are in the medieval world of castles, crowns, and dragons before returning to the original narrative and present day. From there young readers enjoy anticipating the finale of the book as it echoes the plot of the bedtime story. This device encourages children to recognize patterns and themes in books. Expressive, humorous illustrations entice kids to read and reread Tillie & Clementine stories, and in the process youngsters may broaden their reading skills. These books do contain the occasional challenging word, but kids can derive the meaning from context clues in the nearby copy and artwork.
REVIEW
When Tillie and Clementine's mother goes out to a meeting the girls are left in the hands of their father who does a nice job fixing dinner and telling a bed time story. However, the story has unintended side effects when he locks himself out of the house and has to find an alternative way into the house. Young children are bound to find the book funny and the cartoon illustrations encourage that humor. The illustrations were my favorite part making me smile and even laugh at moments (especially at the end, sorry, no spoilers). Certainly the solutions to the problems in the story are creative and entertaining. An enjoyable book.
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