Official Review: Something’s Eating The Garden

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bookowlie
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Official Review: Something’s Eating The Garden

Post by bookowlie »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Something’s Eating The Garden" by Pam Fries.]
Book Cover
3 out of 4 stars
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Something’s Eating the Garden is a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Pam Fries. While eating a meal, a little boy speculates who could be eating the fruit and vegetable crops in his family’s garden. Papa provides pertinent information about various animals as the child asks about potential suspects. For example, Papa explains that a frog would be more interested in eating bugs than beans.

I enjoyed this short book which has an interesting plot twist. Written completely in rhyme, the storyline is easy to follow. There is a traditional rhyme scheme, with the second and fourth lines rhyming in each stanza. Kids usually love rhymes so this aspect is a nice bonus. Also, there are no advanced words, so the book would be a good choice for beginning readers.

The rhymes aren’t always obvious due to the format. Sometimes all four lines are on the same page, but other times two of the lines are on the next page; in one instance, the four-line set is laid out across three pages. In a paper version of the book, I assume the pages would be side by side, and the rhyming words would be easy to spot. However, this isn’t the case in the Kindle format.

One minor gripe I have is the little boy isn’t given a proper name. Although this omission doesn’t affect the plot, it gives an impersonal feel to the character. Children often name their stuffed animals and other play figures, so they might relate better to a character with a proper name.

The pages contain full-length illustrations that look like beautiful paintings. The animals have a textured appearance – for example, there are subtle color changes in the pig’s hair and ears. On each page, a different animal is shown holding or chomping on a specific item. The pictures tie in nicely with the narrative and could spark further discussion about various animals and foods.

The book contains only one error - the closing quotation mark is incorrectly shown on the next line. However, this mistake is very noticeable since it is on the first page in an extremely short book.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is an entertaining and educational tale suitable for children ages 3-8, especially those who enjoy food or animal themes. Older kids would likely be more interested in a longer story with a more detailed plot. Although the plot and illustrations are top-notch, the other issues I mentioned caused me to lower the overall rating.

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Something’s Eating The Garden
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randompersonavility
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Post by randompersonavility »

I love reading rhymes too! I think this will be a good book to learn about animals. I agree that the author should've given the boy a proper name.
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Post by gali »

A rhymed children’s picture book about animals sounds sweet! Encouraging kids to eat by giving them information about the food habits of the animals is a great idea. A pity about the bad format and the lack of proper name. I agree that lack of a name gives an impersonal feel. Kids will connect more to a hero with a proper name. Hopefully the one error will be fixed. Great review as always!
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Post by Nyambura Githui »

Honestly, when I read the title it really didn't sound like an interesting book. Now that I've read your review I'll look for it and gift it to my little niece. Good review. :D
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Post by Cecilia_L »

What a cute idea for a children's book. Living in a rural area, we always know what's eating our garden--deer and rabbits! It is strange that the little boy wasn't given a name. Otherwise, it sounds like a fun book for young readers, and I enjoyed your review.
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Post by kdstrack »

A perfect book for children. I love the attractive cover. The textured appearance of the animals is a big plus for the younger ones. Thanks for your wonderful review. This book is an excellent gift idea to encourage young ones to read and instill in them a love for books.
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Post by bookowlie »

Thanks everyone for the kind words.
Gali - I felt awkward mentioning one error in the review. However, it was so noticeable since it was on the first page in a very short book.
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Post by chewy4uto »

I have a little one that I take care of, is four years old and is a picky eater. Everything is I won't like it. This book with beautiful illustrations looks like a good book to read to him. It may help to make it fun! I resited a nursery rhyme to him the other day, and it surprised me that he didn't know any verses. Thank you for your review I enjoyed reading it.
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Post by Jessacardinal »

The cover of the book is beautiful. I am happy to read the interior illustrations appear to match the attractive cover.
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Post by Amy+++ »

Sounds great, and it teaches kids about animals and deduction skills.
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Post by Joanna Urive »

It's fantastic when you read the book because it's easy to get children intrigue with animals .
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Post by kandscreeley »

I do think children would be able to identify with the main character more if he had a name. Still, I like the idea of learning about various animals this way in order to find out who is eating the garden. Thanks for the great review.
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Post by unamilagra »

Great review. You are right about the name issue, my daughter always asks, "but what's his name?" if the character is not named in a book.
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Post by BelleReadsNietzsche »

A children's book with rhyming and food and garden themes. Sounds delightful! Really enjoyed your description of what works well about this book and what you thought could have been improved.
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Post by Jackie Holycross »

I just love the cover. It sounds like a cute story.
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