Monday, April 23, 2012

The Little Brute Family by Russell Hoban - NOT RECOMMENDED

Hoban, Russell.  The Little Brute Family, illustrated by Lillian HobanMacMillan's Children Publishing Group, 2011 (Originally Published in 1966). $15.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  This is a republished early reader edition of the classic story.  I had never heard of the story (but I wasn't born until 1978).  The Brute family are a bunch of grumpy misfits who never share any pleasantries with each other.  They eat together, but the food tastes horrible and everything else they do doesn't work out for them.  Then one of the Brute children finds a "wandering lost good feeling" and everything changes.  I did not like this book.  It was not a story.  It was a low-level character sketch.  Great, we now know the characters...let's get on with the story.  Please, can something happen?  What's the point?  I can't imagine any young kid wanting to read this when other books are out there with monsters and skeletons and giants.  Pre-K, EL (K-3) - NOT RECOMMENDED.  Brent Smith, Reading Teacher

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