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Author: Shari Becker: Illustrator Valeria Petrone

Publisher: G.P. PUTNAM’S SONS

ISBN: 978-0399-24358-5

Shari Becker, author of MAXWELL’S MOUNTAIN has now teamed up with illustrator Valeria Petrone, for her second children’s book HORRIS GROWS DOWN.

This quirky and hilarious story focuses on a huge baby known as Horris Zeldnik who was born so big that the doctors remarked that they had never seen a baby that large.

However, his parents were determined to treat him like a regular baby even though his mother was required to stand on her tiptoes to rock his cradle while standing on eleven books.

Horris had a voracious appetite consuming as much as six cartons of milk at each meal and in order to clean his teeth, he had to use a hairbrush.  At age four his parents gave up trying to treat him like a regular child and Horris was sent out to work at Bernard Backlebass’s Box Factory.

For awhile he succeeded in his work although his social contacts with his co-workers were restricted.  One day, his boss, Mr. Backlebass, asked Horris to fill in for a missing box counter. When Horris was unable to count past ten, Backlebass fired him. 

On his way home, Horris befriends a group of children who were playing ball in a neighbourhood field. What amazed Horris, as he was still thinking about his previous job, was that the children were not required to wear any special clothes as a bow tie, they didn’t have to adhere to any set working hours and they were not paid a salary. 

When Horris reached home he confided to his mother that he had been fired due to his inability to count past ten. His parents tried to comfort him, however, Horris informed them that he had found a new job playing with his friends in the playground and he had no intention going back to boxes.

Children will no doubt enjoy reading this tale that is not only comical but also points out our differences that we must respect. Becker’s imagination has succeeded monumentally in a fun and interesting way to boost Horris’s confidence and self-esteem.

One disappointment is that the illustrations Petrone renders digitally in a retro fifties style lack originality, although her colors are bright and her backgrounds simple, having a good perspective.

The racoon eyed characters are reminiscent of advertisements in Montreal newspapers, for example www.flyporter.com (an airline company). Their expressions are quirky and adorable. The little details like a yellow Vespa (Italian scooter) show the Italian origin of the illustrator.  Nonetheless, children will surely laugh loudly at this unusual tale.

The above review was contributed by:  Lily Azerad-Goldman, B.F.A, Artist: Click Here to view Lily’s Reviews 

Click Here to Purchase From Amazon HORRIS GROWS DOWN