Woolbur (Woolbur #1)

In a fresh variation on the theme of marching to the beat of a different drummer, Helakoski ("Big Chickens Fly the Coop", see Notes, below) presents Woolbur, a lamb with unique ideas. A series of linguistically similar episodes takes children through the process of how a sheeps wool is shorn, carded, spun, dyed and woven to make clothand at each step Woolbur demurs. I dont want to shear [or card or spin] my wool, he says, and after his parents give him a reason they think he cant refute, he repeats the line, I know... isnt it great? Debut artist Harpers quirky illustrations picture Maa and Paa pulling their wool (instead of their hair) every night as Woolburs Grandpaa advises them to relax. By storys end all the other lambs copy Woolburcarding their own wool and experimenting with coloruntil his dumbfounded parents fret that they wont be able to find their distinctive son. Grandpaa says, Dont worry, and the reader sees Woolbur inventing knitting. Harper meets the challenge of conceiving new ways to illustrate the patterned repetitions of the story, even if his characters are sometimes static, while Helakoski capitalizes on Woolburs enthusiasm despite the predictable outcomes of the similar scenes. Children will relish Woolburs ability to pull the wool over his parents objections. Ages 3-6. "(Jan.)" Copyright 2007 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2Woolbur is his own sheep. He doesn't follow the herd, he doesn't shear his wool in the spring, and he weaves his forelock into a flamboyant bouffant hairdo. And whenever his Maa and Paa point out to him that he is different, Woolbur's answer is, "I know....Isn't it great?" It's great for free-spirited Woolbur and his in-tune Grandpaa, but not for his concerned parents, who are picking themselves bald with worry. When they finally insist that their son must act more like the other sheep, Woolbur turns conformity on its head by teaching all of the others to act like him. Now Maa and Paa's concern is how they can identify their child from all the other eccentrics. "Woolbur" is a testament to individuality, although the conversion of the other sheep diminishes the message a bit. Still, it's nice to see a story in which being different is not a struggle but a happy choice made in the spirit of fun. Harper's amusing illustrations contribute to that fun with subtle details like Grandpaa's yin and yang bed linen and a copy of "Right Brained Lambs" on a lamp table beside a frazzled Maa. There is plenty to mull over, making this a good supplemental selection."Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA" Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.