7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Billy Elliot in pig form, September 10, 2004
This review is from: Dumpy La Rue (Hardcover)
Let me explain to you the process that I follow when I review picture books. First, I read tons of professional reviews of the newest books coming out. Then I systematically make a list and work my way through it, often including old standbys and books from my own youth that I'd like to reexamine. THEN I finally check out a book or two and review it for fun. I almost never deviate from this pattern except on special occasions. Such an occasion arose just the other day when I was pawing through my local library. I was in a new library attempting to find some of the books on my list when the title, "Dumpy La Rue" caught my eye. I'd never heard of "Dumpy La Rue". I was familiar with the illustrator Betsy Lewin (of "Click Clack Moo" and "Duck For President" fame) but not author Elizabeth Winthrop. But one glance on the cover of a delightful pig in a spotlight and I was sold. I mean, with a title like "Dumpy La Rue" and a fun frolicsome pig, how could I resist? Out the window goes my careful selection process. Into my home comes "Dumpy La Rue".
The first sentence of the book sums it up. "Dumpy La Rue wanted to dance". Of course, Dumpy has a couple facts not in his favor. First of all he's a pig. As his father is quick to inform him, "Pigs don't dance". Second, he's a boy. His sister points out that "They fight, they march, they sport, and they snort. And they're never ever supposed to cavort". None of this discourages Dumpy one little bit. Soon he's dancing in full view of the entire barnyard (much to the embarrassment of his family members). Before you know it the sheep want to join in. Then everyone wants to. Instructing them to listen to the music inside everyone closes their eyes and does so. Before you know it everyone's in on the act, even Dumpy's ma, pa, and sister. Says the last sentence in the book, "The Barnyard Ballet of Dumpy La Rue. The pig who knew what he wanted to do".
The story's got a catchy rhyming beat that difficult to resist. Winthrop also knows exactly which dance terms to include. For those with a basic background in ballet, note the phrase, "He did a glissade and pas de bourree. From slop heap to bucket, he jeted his way". I advise you to help kids learning to read with that part (and to learn the pronunciation of the French yourself if you've a mind to). As catchy as the words are, however, they're nothing compared to Lewin's illustrations. You know, I liked "Click Clack Moo", but I always felt that Lewin's accompanying pictures were the weak point of that tale. They lacked a kind of verve and technical accomplishment. Had I but known that she was capable of the kind of fabulous energy and bounce found in "Dumpy La Rue" I would have definitely taken her to task. In this book Lewin has gone all out. From the sheep chorus line on the endpapers to the lengthening shadows on the dancing animals throughout the day, Lewin's got it going on. She uses watercolors to give the night sky behind the barnyard dance a kind of blue/purple distinctness. I've never seen her give such great movement and character to her drawings before. Heck, if you can look at the adorable title page containing a smiling Dumpy La Rue perched on a sign and NOT want to read this book then you're a hard hard case.
The message I can take or leave. Stories about "being yourself" abound and this one's hardly any different. Far better (and worth the price of the book alone) are Betsy Lewin's illustrations. I kid you not, they're the best dancing animal illustrations I've ever seen. I know that Steven Kellogg wrote a fairly similar story to this one recently about a dancing cow ("Clorinda") so you might consider pairing the two together. Both have their charms, but "Dumpy La Rue" includes an entire barnyard conglomeration of dancing animals. Few books can boast as much. Few books are as good as this.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dumpy LA Rue, December 2, 2001
This review is from: Dumpy La Rue (Hardcover)
Dumpy La Rue is a fun book. I read it to a group of third graders and they loved the rhyming words and thought of more that would rhyme with them. The loved the pictures as well as the story. They wanted me to read it to them again and again!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dumpy will Capture your Imagination, June 10, 2001
This review is from: Dumpy La Rue (Hardcover)
Dumpy La Rue knew what he wanted to do. Though his family tried to discourage him...pigs grunt and grovel, they bellow and wallow and snuffle truffles, Dumpy knew his own mind and wouldn't be swayed. What he wanted to do was dance. And so while the rest of the barnyard watched, "He twirled in the sty,/ raised his snout to the sky,/ spread his hooves far and wide/ and pretended to fly." And pretty soon interest among the farm animals was brimming. They all wanted to dance too. But how to get started? So Dumpy offered a bit of advice. "If you want to dance,/if you want to glide,/just close your eyes/and listen inside."..... Elizabeth Winthrop and Betsy Lewin have authored a marvelously expressive story full of rhythm, motion, imagery and magic that will charm and delight both children and adults alike. The easy to read, rhyming text is complemented by their joyous, imaginative and detailed illustrations that will have everyone up and dancing with Dumpy in no time. Perfect for youngsters 3-8, Dumpy La Rue is a winner and a "must have" for all home libraries.
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