Reviews: (by author)

Frenkel, Yetti. The Big, Blue Lump. Peabody, MA: Snow Tree Books, 2004. ISBN 0-9749006-0-5. $16.95

This sprightly cumulative tale stars a surprising little blue bug who, unable to convince a hungry chick not to eat it because "I'm much too filling for you," winds up swallowed whole. Gruesome? No, because the illustrations make quite clear that this is a humorous tale. In fact, the bug's warning comes true and the little chick does indeed swell ".until she was so round that her feet rolled right out from under her." When the cat, the dog, and the pig continue the heedless swallowing whole of each other (not too scientific-just funny), they're saved by the goat, who lectures "You shouldn't swallow other animals..It isn't polite," just before he butts the pig's behind so effectively that all the animals inside are projected out, happily all in one piece. When the little blue bug pops out, the other animals are amazed that such a little creature could wreak such havoc. The little fellow takes some deep breaths and, suddenly, he's puffed up so big that the chick, the cat, the dog, the pig, and even the goat run for their lives. Satisfied and smiling, little blue releases the breaths, reduces to his normal size, and continues on his way.

Children will get some good laughs from this expressively illustrated book. It's good fun.

A. Allison, March 2006

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