Squids Will Be Squids
Children's Literature with Dr. Vardell

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My review of a book by Jon Scieszka...

Scieszka, Jon. 1998. SQUIDS WILL BE SQUIDS: FRESH MORALS -BEASTLY FABLES. Illustrated by Lane Smith. Viking. ISBN: 0-670-88135-X

 

 

            SQUIDS WILL BE SQUIDS, a modern day picture book based on Aesops fables, is a delight. The humor and wit wielding from Scieszkas pen are sure to engage every reader, young and old alike. The whacky and fantastic illustrations catch the eye and beg to be explored for details. The text varying size and type adds to the folly and fun of the fables.

 

Scieszka has created a treasury of short fables that contemporary readers will identify with. There are eighteen fables in this book, all with modern day content such as commercials, games such as paper, scissor, rock, and homework. The title of the book, Squids will be Squids, is one of the eighteen fables. It is about a group of animals, young friends, who are trying to decide what to do. All of the animals agree enthusiastically, except for Squid, who is a stick in the mud and isnt happy with any of the suggestions. He finally slithers home, bored and boring. His friends go out and have a great time without him. After each fable there a moral is given. In this case it is simply squids will be squids. In other words, there is always someone in the crowd who is going to be a drag. The illustrations are so well done, the expression on Squids face is perfectly emotionless and always the same. The illustrator doesnt change it in any of the pictures, as if this person oops, I mean, animal has no personality whatsoever.

 

There is a touch of humor even in the dedications of the book. Scieszka dedicates it to For me to know and Smith to For you to find out. This is referring to gossiping about people but changing the characters to animals so that you dont get in troublejust like Aesop did a long time ago. This is a really fun book; even Squid might laugh out loud. I know that I did.

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