Reviews: (by author)

Johansen, Hanna. The Duck and the Owl. Illus. Kathi Bhend. Originally published in Switzerland. NY: David Godine, 2006. $17.95. ISBN 1-56792-285-6. Ages 5+

Duck and Owl are friends-or are they? They bicker about the life-styles each pursues: duck is awake during the day and eats things from the bottom of the pond, while Owl is a night bird who hunts prey. Who's got the right way to live? In delightfully argumentative dialogs somewhat reminiscent of Monty Python-"You do not!" "I do, too!" "Don't," Do!" the brief chapters reveal a couple of creatures who are genuinely fond of each other and, eventually, tolerant of their differences. Children will get many laughs from the sheer silliness of Duck and Owl's disagreements. Adults will immediately recognize the superior writing of one of Switzerland 's best known authors.
In fact, the second one opens this book, one recognizes its quality in the art of the endflaps; the pen and ink work of artist Kathi Bhend is, literally, breath-taking. Yes, I gasped when I got to the opening pages, three wordless two-page illustrations so detailed, so realistic, so soft-looking and profoundly beautiful that I went directly to the back flap blurb on the illustrator; she is an Swiss of great acclaim and this publication by Godine is only one of several collaborations between Johansen and Bhend. Like Oliver Twist, I want "more, please."

David Godine Publisher specializes in top-quality book frequently translated from major international authors. The book's price buys a very well produced volume that will be read and reread. I highly recommend this book.

A. Allison, March 2006

Johansen, Hanna. Henrietta and the Golden Egg. Illus. Kathi Bhend. Trans. John H. Barrett. Boston : David Godine, 2002. First soft-cover 2004. $9.95. ISBN 1-56792-288-0. 32 pp.

This little work of art was originally published in German, so both author and translator deserve credit for the fine sound of this modern poultry fairy tale. The story about 3333 pent-up, egg-laying chickens is tongue-in-cheek funny, while the message is ecological: give those coughing chickens some fresh air! The star is Henrietta, littler than the other hens and thus able to dig her way out of the corporate coop and into the lovely, colorful, tactile world. Three times she gets out, followed each episode by 3332 others, who require to be rounded up by the bottom-line obsessed humans. Finally the humans get the idea about the healthy outdoors, and the story ends happily with the laying of Henrietta's first egg.

Bhend's pen and ink pictures and their design on the page are on the level of Sendak, exquisitely detailed and imaginative, with many touches of humor. Godine produces beautiful books, such as this and another reviewed this month, Rama and Sita.

A. Allison, June 2006

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