From Publishers Weekly
Cocca-Leffler (Thanksgiving at the Tappletons) ladles out equal portions of the sweet and the bland in this well-traveled story line of a scaredy-raccoon. Carlin, whose mask-like eyes play up his emotions, is afraid "of bumps in the night, of trying new things, of being alone. He was afraid of his own shadow!" Zack the fox tells his pal that he needs "a bit of bravery" and takes Carlin to the edge of the woods, where Big Bear stirs a large pot of Bravery Soup. The cook sends Carlin on a perilous journey to fetch a crucial ingredient, kept in a box in a cave in Skulk Mountain. The bear reassures the quivering 'coon that "You are braver than you think," and the statement echoes in the hero's mind as he ventures alone into the Forbidden Forest, crosses a raging river and enters the dark cave. The plot loses steam when it reverts to flashback ("Carlin had not been swept away," the author reassures readers when the hero's friends find his raft), taking the oomph out of the pacing. The dense text ends with a cliched message ("It is not what is inside the box that makes bravery. It is what is inside of you!"), but the acrylics, applied with thick brushstrokes, convey the suspense as well as the warm friendship between the animal friends. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
reSchool-Grade 2--A timid raccoon is afraid of almost everything, including his own shadow. A friend introduces him to Big Bear, "the bravest animal in all the land," who agrees to help cowardly Carlin overcome his fears. The bear is making "Bravery Soup" and needs one more ingredient, so he sends the timid creature into the Forbidden Forest to get it. The mission involves crossing a raging river, climbing to a mountaintop cave, and facing a hairy monster. Through a bit of luck and a "trick of the eye," the little raccoon successfully retrieves the parcel. When Big Bear reveals that the box is empty, Carlin discovers that he is full of courage and proud of it. Readers then understand that Bravery Soup does not make one brave, it is served only to those who have proven themselves. The colorful illustrations are rendered in acrylic and resemble finger painting. Changes in the text size add to the visual effect and aid in reading the story aloud. Children will enjoy seeing how self-sufficient and confident Carlin becomes because of his expedition.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WICopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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