The Squiggle

by Carole Lexa Schaefer

Overview

What magic can be found in a piece of string?  The magic of a million incarnations—when the string is found by an imaginative little girl who spies it on the sidewalk.  Slither, slish—it could be the dance of a scaly dragon.  Or, push-a-pat—the top of the Great Wall of China.  Unique illustrations, inspired by Asian brush-stroke paintings, transform the simple thread into fireworks, thunderclouds, and even the moon.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780517885796
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	06/15/1999
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.06(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.15(d)
Lexile:	370L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Carole Lexa Schaefer and Pierr Morgan are longtime friends and collaborators. The Squiggle, their first book together for Crown, was an ALA Notable Book and a Booklist Editors' Choice. Both author and artist live and work in Seattle, Washington.

Editorial Reviews

"Joyful and clever and with oh so much child appeal."—Booklist, starred review

"Presents one of the universal joys of childhood in an accessible and charming fashion."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Splendid, vibrant illustrations...a fabulous read-aloud."—Kirkus Reviews

"Delightful fantasy, charming watercolor illustrations."—The New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher

Splendid, vibrant illustrations exhibiting a Chinese influence dance through this tribute to the imagination of one small girl.

The nameless narrator, on her way to the park with her classmates and teacher, spies a piece of red rope on the ground. She waves this "squiggle" and lo! it's a dragon ("slither slish"), a tightrope ("snap, tah-dah"), a full moon ("ah-whoosh"), a crenellated wall ("push-a-pat"). She catches up to her classmates and illustrates all of the permutations of the squiggle for them, and they cheer her ("hoorayee!"). The gouache-and-color-marker pictures make this tale: They fairly vibrate with energy against the oatmeal-textured paper. The lines of the children's bodies are nervous and alive; the many changes Morgan visits upon the squiggle range from a spectacularly ornate dragon to a still, soothing moon. Schaefer (In the Children's Garden, 1994, etc.) strives a bit too hard in the sound effects, but for the right performer, this could be a fabulous read-aloud.

Kirkus Reviews