The One That Got Away
Grade 1-5-- ``On the first day out, much to their surprise, they caught one.'' The one they caught is just that, a large numeral one, and the puns on the use of the word ``one'' in the English language just percolate along, as three western-garbed guys go out and capture a herd of ones, pen them up, and then go out and chase after the big one that got away. The quirky story is matched perfectly by bright, mixed-media illustrations that have an angular look to them. The visual jokes in the pictures match the verbal jokes in the text, as two little birds sitting on a tree limb are joined by a mouse, odd looking lizards keep an eye on the action, and tiny number-shaped creatures drift through the pages. There is a lot to find in these detailed paintings, and a lot of uses to which the book can be put. Young children will enjoy it for the story and the feeling of being ``in'' on the joke. Older children will appreciate the word play, and might even use it as a pattern for writing assignments on puns or multiple meanings. This offbeat but endearing little book exhibits a congenial marriage between text and illustration, at once whimsical and humorous. --Ann Welton, Thomas Academy, Kent, WACopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.