Muddy As a Duck Puddle and Other American Similes
Grade 2–4—Lawlor has collected 26 "proverbial comparisons"—one for each letter of the alphabet—that are uniquely American. Some may be familiar—"Jittery as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs"—and others perhaps more obscure—"Zany as a chigger chased around a stump." Long's digitally rendered cartoon illustrations feature bright, flat colors and help to explain the similes while adding significantly to the humor. Back matter includes detailed notes that provide the place of origin and a clear breakdown of the meaning. Useful as an introduction to colorful language, the book could also serve as a preamble to a unit on the American tall tale and its propensity to exaggerate.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.