The Very Little Girl (Cartwheel) - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 1-- Krasilovsky has altered her 1962 text slightly for Very Little Boy, but the real changes lie in format and illustrations. Gundersheimer's full-color pictures replace the red-and-blue dominated originals. However, at times the smaller size of the new version seems to crowd the text. The theme of a toddler's physical growth and mastery of simple tasks continues in the second book. Here mother's work basket has been replaced with a desk and Gundersheimer's illustrative style works well in the small format. The full-color pictures are more striking than the pink-and-green originals and the 1992 Very Little Girl is more robust and active than her 1953 counterpart. However, the earlier titles employed more imaginative typography to underscore contrasts in size. Both stories end with the child assuming the new role of older sibling. Although there is no reason to abandon Krasilovsky's originals, librarians might want to brighten their shelves these new versions. --Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.