Publishers Weekly
PW called this "a hearty roundup of animal-related idioms, similes, metaphors and proverbs, organized by habit. Readers should have a whale of a time perusing these diverting, creatively cluttered pages." Ages 6-10. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Laura Hummel
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Children's Literature
Have you ever wondered what expressions such as wool gathering, it's the bee's knees, or kangaroo court could really mean? One will be happy as a lark to take a gander at this ducky book. Hundreds of animal expressions that people use every day are included in clever text and whimsical illustrations. A zebra crossing is a striped sidewalk and if people lock horns, they disagree. Phrases are grouped for the home, barnyard, wilderness, in the air, or under the ground or waves. An index provides a quick reference to particular animals. So be as wise as an owl and try your wings with a humorous way to study figures of speech of the English language. 2003, Holiday House,Ages 8 up.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-6-Like a moth to a flame, readers will be drawn to this entertaining book. The sayings are loosely grouped by types of animals-domestic, barnyard, winged, etc.-and each adage is accompanied by a short definition. For example, "It's raining cats and dogs. It's raining hard." Numerous sayings are scattered over each spread and illustrated with small, full-color pictures in a variety of styles. While this format might seem overwhelming at first glance, children will pore over the pages. The collaboration of text and art makes the volume lively and humorous. The index is arranged by animal rather than by adage. This title is perfect for anyone who wonders about the meaning of everyday expressions, and it makes a good language reference tool. Readers might come to this book for a specific saying, but will find themselves captivated by the engaging text and great illustrations.-Susan Marie Pitard, formerly at Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
As the subtitle indicates, this is a compendium of familiar and not-so-familiar sayings that have to do with animals, from "we’re off like a herd of turtles" to "the tail end." The design is purposely busy, packing all 440 sayings into 48 meager pages by allowing them to spill onto the title page, index, and colophon, although most are confined to the body of the book and organized thematically, from "Around the House" to "Under the Waves." The sayings are illustrated by bright vignettes that differ in style to provide both variety and to suit the saying, and frequently interact. So, "as crazy as a cuckoo" is illustrated by a wacky-looking bird popping out of a classically Swiss clock; this contrasts with "Watch it like a hawk," which features a proud raptor with gaze fixed, X-ray vision-like, on a "nest egg" filled with C-notes. Each saying is glossed--"Don’t cast your pearls before swine" becomes "Don’t waste something good on people who can’t appreciate it"--and these paraphrases very rarely rely themselves on idiomatic expressions, making them clear and easy to understand. An authors’ note at the beginning explains the different types of sayings, from simile and metaphor to idiom and proverb. The serious philologist might wish for origins to the expressions contained herein, but there’s only so much this perky little volume can do; as it is, it will provide substantial browsing pleasure to both animal lovers and children curious about language. The cat’s pajamas! (Nonfiction. 6-10)
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