The Gnats of Knotty Pine

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed in Stereotypes
Review: "The Gnats of Knotty Pine," by Bill Peet, has quality illustrations and a competent story line. It is touted as a story that shows how "little people" can make a difference. In it, a group of animals meet to discuss the opening day of hunting season and figure out a plan to "save their own skins." The big animals disagree on what to do, when a swarm of gnats decide to join the meeting. They are chased off by the others as having no worth. When the hunters arrive the next day, the gnats are the only "animals" who are able to drive the hunters away. They save the day.

This story is a thinly disguised animal rights tract masquerading under the "little guy wins out" plot. Some of the illustrations and text are so obviously stereotyped and simplistic, I'm surprised it has garnered so many good reviews.

First, the illustrations that feature hunters show them as slack-jawed, evil-looking men. Some sport hats with brims tipped up "Gomer Pyle" style -- clearly reading "hick." When the hunters arrive they are all in "lower class" vehicles, the lead truck with a license plate reading "OGRES."

Another troubling illustration shows a squirrel leveling a shotgun at two hunters begging for their lives -- a "turn-about is fair play" message that I find destructive to young minds. Some of the textual messages are also disturbing to young children. It asserts that hunters are only after "a prize buck with...antlers" or "anything on four legs" and even "anything that moves."

While there may be hunters that are irresponsible, the people who make up hunting community run the gamut of our society, from doctors to union workers. They bring a variety of values and ethics to the activity. In addition, women happen to be the fastest growing segment of hunters.

A thoughtful exploration of these issues without stereotypes and hateful exposition would be more appropriate for children. I would not recommend "The Gnats of Knotty Pine" as good reading for children -- nor does this hate belong in our schools.

By Gail Blankenau, author of "Mountain Pirates" an outdoor adventure for children.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed in Stereotypes
Review: "The Gnats of Knotty Pine," by Bill Peet, has quality illustrations and a competent story line. It is touted as a story that shows how "little people" can make a difference. In it, a group of animals meet to discuss the opening day of hunting season and figure out a plan to "save their own skins." The big animals disagree on what to do, when a swarm of gnats decide to join the meeting. They are chased off by the others as having no worth. When the hunters arrive the next day, the gnats are the only "animals" who are able to drive the hunters away. They save the day.

This story is a thinly disguised animal rights tract masquerading under the "little guy wins out" plot. Some of the illustrations and text are so obviously stereotyped and simplistic, I'm surprised it has garnered so many good reviews.

First, the illustrations that feature hunters show them as slack-jawed, evil-looking men. Some sport hats with brims tipped up "Gomer Pyle" style -- clearly reading "hick." When the hunters arrive they are all in "lower class" vehicles, the lead truck with a license plate reading "OGRES."

Another troubling illustration shows a squirrel leveling a shotgun at two hunters begging for their lives -- a "turn-about is fair play" message that I find destructive to young minds. Some of the textual messages are also disturbing to young children. It asserts that hunters are only after "a prize buck with...antlers" or "anything on four legs" and even "anything that moves."

While there may be hunters that are irresponsible, the people who make up hunting community run the gamut of our society, from doctors to union workers. They bring a variety of values and ethics to the activity. In addition, women happen to be the fastest growing segment of hunters.

A thoughtful exploration of these issues without stereotypes and hateful exposition would be more appropriate for children. I would not recommend "The Gnats of Knotty Pine" as good reading for children -- nor does this hate belong in our schools.

By Gail Blankenau, author of "Mountain Pirates" an outdoor adventure for children.

Rating:
Summary: One dull book!
Review: I found this book to be wordy, uncreative and dull. As a mother of 5, I have read lots of children's books and usually enjoy a new one, but not this one. Very dull. I do not recomend this book and neither do my 6 and 3 year old.

Rating:
Summary: One dull book!
Review: I found this book to be wordy, uncreative and dull. As a mother of 5, I have read lots of children's books and usually enjoy a new one, but not this one. Very dull. I do not recomend this book and neither do my 6 and 3 year old.

Rating:
Summary: This book helped me understand hunters and animals.
Review: This was a really good book. I really enojoyed how heroic the Gnats were to protect the animals, even though the moose blew them away with his nose. It also gave me a sense of excitememnt when the hunters ran away from my hero the squirl.