Zinnia and Dot [Paperback]

Lisa Campbell Ernst (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Cooperation is the focus when two feuding hens lose all but one of their eggs to a weasel while squabbling, and the fun really begins when they begin to argue about whose egg it is, and what to do with it. Reprint. SLJ. K. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two rival hens must put aside their differences to solve a problem; PW noted, "Children will enjoy the action scenes and the bickering biddies." Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- With flawless phrasing and lively art, Ernst returns to her theme of competition's drive (nearly) overcoming good judgment. Two hens have such pride in their eggs that it overshadows all sense of perspective and results in the theft, by a wily and opportunistic weasel, of all but one of the eggs. The remaining one then becomes the source of even more rancor until a pair of mourning doves persuades the feuding females to share the responsibility of sitting on it. They do, but with comic results that lead, after all, to a happy ending. As in Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt (Lothrop, 1983) and Miss Penny and Mr. Grubbs (Bradbury, 1991), Ernst makes her point, but ever so gently. The pastel-and-ink drawings, filled with shades of browns and blues suggestive of a henhouse, depict plump, proud hens whose facial expressions and ``feather language'' tell the tale as effectively as the words. A winning tale of a friendship that triumphs over vanity. --Jane Marino, White Plains Public Library, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140541993
• ISBN-13: 978-0140541991
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,290,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars you go, girls!, November 17, 2011

By 

third time mom (Naperville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zinnia and Dot (Paperback)

Plotline: 2 hens in a henhouse fight and squabble over who's eggs are better. Mr. Weasel raids the henhouse, steals the eggs, upsets the nests. One egg is left. Who's is it? The hens fight over it, each claiming it as their own. They ultimately share the egg-warming duty, and, when the weasel returns, team up to fight him off to save the last remaining egg. Sorry if that gives away the whole book, but I don't think spoilers apply to preschool books.

I felt compelled to write something good about this book after reading other reviews that felt that this book promotes lesbianism. How ridiculous! I'd say that those people who choose to read into it that way should get their minds out of the gutter, but that would imply that there is something gutter-worty of lesbianism.

I've owned this book for years, have read it to all my children, and have always just felt it as a wonderful book of, "Hey, look how amazingly strong the power of a mother's love can be for her child". I'd like to think that, as a mom, I would find the strength to "fight off the weasel", or whatever threat came my children's way. It's nice for the kids to see a book that reinforces just how strong that protective mom love is.

If there is any kind of message, perhaps you can see the 2 hens as a "biological" parent and an "adoptive" parent. Does one love the child more? Of course not. There's your message.

5.0 out of 5 stars Would give it a sixth star if an option., May 11, 2009

By 

dingojen (Alice Springs, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zinnia and Dot (Paperback)

This book deserves to be put on a core literature shelf for all schools and on the shelf of all homes. I am a credentialed relief/substitute teacher and I always turn to this book if teachers do not leave any plans for me. Zinnia and Dot generates language, conversation, and thinking. A writing lessons can be easily incorporated if you choose to further the pleasure of this delightful book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sharing is caring., March 20, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Zinnia and Dot (Paperback)

I read this book to my Kindergarten class, we did a lot of activities such as writing a birth announcement, learning to problem solve, and finnaly they concluded that sharing is better than fighting, and it shows caring for others.