Who Was It? - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 1-- Without permission, Isabelle dips into the cookie jar to get goodies for herself and little brother, Jerome. The jar crashes onto the floor, and Mama rushes into the kitchen, demanding to know who made the mess. Both Isabelle and Jerome deny responsibility. Isabelle blames it on a fire-breathing dragon, a large furry monster, a pair of kangaroos, and a huge dog. Jerome blames a hungry astronaut. Mama is gently skeptical. Isabelle finally confesses, and offers to help clean up and bake a new batch of cookies. The obvious moral is that tall tales won't fool your mother, and Isabelle is certainly an unconvincing liar. Her monsters are far-fetched and neither exciting nor amusing. Sketchy ink and watercolor illustrations in pallid shades show nonthreatening creatures such as a pastel dragon and a blue monster reminiscent of Sendak's "wild things." The human figures are somewhat squatty and have wide-eyed, expressive faces. They're the book's best feature. --Patricia Pearl, First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
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