The Quicksand Book

Rating:
Summary: Clever!
Review: Tomie de Paola, a talented and prolific author perhaps best known for Strega Nona, has another winner here. The text is clear, packed with information, and humorous. DePaola keeps his young readers diverted by using a fictional device: a little girl is sinking in quicksand while a boy proceeds to lecture on the subject-- at length-- until the last minute. Of course, she gets her revenge in the end and the readers are lefted wiser and happier. I wish more children's nonfiction authors would appreciate how much information children will sit still for -- even enjoy -- if it is presented imaginatively.