Little Smudge
PreSchool-Grade 1—Spare pages with graphic illustrations reveal the story of a little black smudge who searches for friends. He finds some colorful shapes, but they reject him. Encouraged by his parents to show them what he can do, he displays his remarkable shape-changing abilities. And then he teaches the other shapes how they can do the same. The language seems a bit stilted. The illustrations, however, are wonderful. Le Néouanic gives thanks to Leo Lionni, Joan Miró, and Henri Matisse for inspiration. Their influence on his art is obvious, especially when the colored shapes begin changing. The story is slight, but the shape-changing is creative and fun.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, MECopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.