The Red Lemon

The Red Lemon

• by: Bob Staake
• Illustrations by the author.
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 978-0375835933
• Date: 2006
• Price (as of the date of this post): $10.17 (Amazon without shipping)
• Where to buy? Amazon.com

I am torn by this book.

I think that the illustrations are wonderful and have a very graphic artsy feel to them and I am a sucker for good illustrations. The textures and gradients make them pop.

My issue is the text.

I discovered the book on the shelf of a kindergarten room in which I have bus duty (waiting in the room with a bunch of kids that ride the same bus until the bus arrives at school to pick them up). I have read them many of my favorites from Charlie McButton to Our Tree Named Steve and the audience, which ranges from k-2, are a good cross section of the school.

They liked the book while I read it to them. They didn't love it but did seem to enjoy it and made references on every page about the size of the farmer.

They were engaged all the way up to the end. When we finished the book there was a stunned silence.

"That's it?" One of them asked.

I looked at one of the second grade boys, he shrugged his shoulders. I looked at the other kids and their faces bore confused and questioning looks.

We read it again to see where we had missed something. Some message that made the ending, or lack there of, make sense. Nothing the second time around either.

Mrs. Ikura Soup says that she thinks the message is don't throw away something until you know what it's worth. Don't just dismiss something potentially valuable without thought.

Others often compare Straake to Dr. Seuss and those are huge shoes to fill. He is not Dr. Seuss, no one but the doctor himself is.

The book is cute looking but left us feeling cheated and unsatisfied. Take a pass on this one I think.

Content: 2/5

Illustrations: 4/5

Concept: 2/5

Quality: 5/5

Price: 3/5