I tend to roll my eyes when here is a children’s book (or any book) by a famous adult author or person. You know that the book will either fly off the shelf or sit
there because of who it is and not necessarily because it is a good or bad book. However, you pretty much know the outcome ahead of time: if you are in a liberal area you know Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Nation’s Capital will most likely not sell, but in MAGA Country, Becoming is not going to get any lovin’.
Yet, I am not sure which side Lambslide by Ann Patchett is. To be honest, I am not familiar enough to know their politics. However, I do know that Patchett is a believer in the democratic process, therefore thinking perhaps a bit more liberal.
This is a typical book about kids being kids. Or lambs being lambs. They think the sun rises and moon sets literally because they are ready to get up in the morning and go to sleep at night. But when the lambs find an issue (they want a lambslide) they learn that it is not all about them. Therefore, via mama’s advice, they poll the other farm animals, have a vote and figure out a way to get ‘er done (with a little help from the Farmers and other animals, of course). Modern sentiment (the mother sheep thinks lambs should solve their own issues when they can) and a few puns (landslide/lambslide) will have most young kids (a few adults, too) getting a kick out of this first picture book by an adult author. Fans of hers, of course, will enjoy.
Robin Preiss Glasser’s signature illustrations are here. The colors are bright, the images busy and fun. There are no real dark colors, but everything is in its place. Simply put, this is a feel-good book. It might not become a classic, but it is something to check out.
