ERROL AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY NOSE
by David Conway and illustrated by Roberta Angaramo
The message may be a standard one, but its vehicle is particularly friendly and comforting to younger children. All the other animals on the playground think that Errol the elephant is clumsy and has a silly nose, but after reading a book about elephants that provides some empowering information he wows an audience of peers and parents at a talent show by using his trunk as a hand, a snorkel and a hose. Off he goes to show his book to fascinated classmates, sharing “the best talent of all…making friends.” While the message and outcome are no big surprise, Conway includes audience-pleasing details: The teacher is a tortoise (of course), a chorus of finches singing to an orchestra of meerkats and “Abraham the Anaconda ate two hundred pancakes.” The animal cast members look like plush toys in Angaramo’s big, simple, coarsely brushed paintings, and smiles outnumber tears by a wide margin. A big bowl of literary chicken soup for any calf in need of a dose of self-confidence. (Picture book. 5-7)