Baaa (Hardcover)

by David Macaulay (Author) "One day a flock of sheep in a remote pasture ran out of food..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up Though a timely fable, purchase of this title would depend on demand for satirical, semi-apocalyptic material. "There is no record of when the last person disappeared." The human population of Earth is dead. A flock of sheep, in search of food, wanders into an abandoned town, and, with the help of supermarkets, television and video-cassette recorders, take up where humanity has left off. With the benefits of civilization come the problems that go with itoverpopulation, food shortages, rationing, crime and military police. Then, a solution to the food shortage is foundBaaa. As the availability of Baaa increases, the population decreases, until the day the last two sheep meet for lunch. "There is no record of when the last one (sheep) disappeared." While this is not a new idea, it is thoughtfully and humorously presented. The illustrationsblack-and-white ink-wash drawingshave charm and wit. The sophisticated humor will be accessible to older children, but the picture book format may not attract them. A useful discussion-provoking title where high concept/low level material is needed. Janice M. Del Negro, Hild Regional Public Library, Chicago
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Filled with devices and allusions that beg for discussion, this should be provocative material out of, as well as in, the classroom." -- Review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; reprint edition (September 30, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395389488
• ISBN-13: 978-0395389485
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,622,370 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets the Mind Going, December 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Baaa (Paperback)

The best thing about this book is that the author never explicitly explains what happened. I read it aloud to my 5th grade class as a prelude to a lesson on making inferences, and the students found it absorbing and challenging. Don't assume that it's for young children because it's a picture book: the story is really too dark and the themes too complex for most children under ten. Teachers could incorporate this book into language arts or social studies instruction for students from the 5th to the 12th grade. Don't miss out- read it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheep evolve to a point of self destruction, March 28, 2005

By	David Boudinot (New Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Baaa (Paperback)

Borrowing from themes of George Orwell's Animal Farm in 1943 and the 1973 movie Soylent Green, David Macaulay's children's book Baaa draws parallels to these stories with demonstrations of matters of overpopulation, resource depletion, social hierarchies, and consumption by depicting sheep evolving to a point of self destruction. The post-apocalyptic storytelling evident in Baaa is reminiscent of Macaulay's earlier work titled "Motel of the Mysteries" in which twentieth century civilization as we know it has ceased to exist. The combination of intellectually savvy text with rich pen and ink drawings complement his analysis of societal ills while supporting a solid body of work.

Coincidentally, Baaa takes up where Motel of Mysteries left off as evident in the first passage of Mysteries. "In 1985 a cataclysmic coincidence of previously unknown proportion extinguished virtually all forms of life on the North American continent." The first line of Baaa reads "There is no record of when the last person disappeared." Perhaps as a continuation of his apocalypse, Macaulay populates his world with zealous sheep that end up emulating the horrors of human society. The conflicts and deterioration examined in Baaa, while not exactly uplifting, do impose a critical analysis of our social environment and collective behaviours. Macaulay is persistent with cautionary tales of potential futures in stories which should appeal to readers of all ages. The illustrations are smart yet playful and the text is very thought provoking. Baaa accomplishes Macaulay's social criticism with great ease proving that this book is a success.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A vivid portrayal of humanity, in sheep's clothing, May 11, 2000

By	Ben Hixon (New York City) - See all my reviews

Baaa is probably the most twisted picture book I have read in quite a long time. Beware, unsuspecting reader! It will be a while before the startling images in this book fade from your mind. There is a point--and everyone who has read it knows exactly what point that is--when you will just step back and stare at the book with a mixture of fascination and revulsion. Baaa continues Macaulay's unique brand of picture book writing, by existing on two levels: the surface level of a slightly revolting but thoroughly enjoyable children's story, and the deeper level, filled with implications about our society and an ominous foreboding about the future. Macaulay's images are more vivid than any Parson Malthus clone, and more startling than any table of statistics. Baaa gets my resounding reccomendation.