Reviews
Ingram Library Services: Clever, exciting, and funny, this title will have high appeal for readers grades 2-5.
School Library Journal: This delightful marriage of takeoffs of famous personalities (Margot Frogtayne, Enrico Escargot) and storytelling techniques yields an amusing cast of rich characters. This is a fun adventure that will capture the imagination of beginning chapter-book readers.
Betsy Bird, New York Public Library Children's Librarian: [Becker's] book poses a particularly lofty query (i.e. What is art?) within a context that many kids will understand...the arc of the story occurs in just the right way to get kids interested in Holbrook's predicament(s)...I was impressed that she [Becker] was able to present ways in which the real art world works, but in a kid-friendly concept...A read that anyone, artist or otherwise, could enjoy.
Booklist: There are aspects of this fantasy that children will understand right away, such as Holbrook's longing for respect in his community, and others that they probably just won't get. To help with the latter, an appended note offers short introductions to artists referenced in the text, such as Enrico Caruso, Margot Fonteyn, T.S. Eliot, and Andy Warhol. The story moves along quickly, enlivened by dramatic situations, dry wit, and dynamic full-page illustrations. An enjoyable romp.
Excerpt
Beneath the high desert sky under stars glittering and grand, a young lizard trudged toward a dusty worn-down building. The sand made a firm skrinch, skrinch sound under his long toes. His fingers curved around a painting, carefully covered with a cloth.
Off in the distance, a great horned owl hooted softly, “Whoooo’s awake?” Then the owl answered himself, as owls liked to do, “Me, too. Me, too.”
The lizard glanced down at his painting. Tonight, Holbrook thought, he would show the other animals of Rattler’s Bend that he was an artist. A real artist. Tonight they would finally see how important and special he was… wasn’t he?
Holbrook swallowed nervously and looked up. The sky soared above him. The last little stars hanging there seemed so far away. He had read somewhere that the light from some of them had taken a million years to reach the Great Desert. Holbrook supposed he was just the tiniest speck standing there, but inside he felt something so big, he thought he might burst with it.
The big thing inside made him want to paint. He wasn’t sure why. It just seemed there were important things to say and do in the world. Much more important than hauling salt from the Great Salt Flats or seeing how many flies you could catch with one tongue snap. Holbrook often wondered if any of the other desert animals felt that way, too. But, he didn’t suppose so.
None of them read books like he did. Holbrook had three books tucked back in a special hole in his burrow. He had read them over and over. In them he had learned of Grand Things: of giant cities and tall buildings that almost touched the sky, of animals who did all kinds of exciting things, even animals who were artists like he wanted to be.
Holbrook tightened his grip on his painting and hurried on to Irving’s General Store and Desert Diner. Irving had invited Holbrook to show his painting there. Right now, near dawn, the restaurant would be full of desert creatures eating breakfast after a long night working at the Salt Flats.
Most everyone in Rattlers’ Bend worked at the flats; nobody in Rattler’s Bend had ever been anything like an artist. That’s why Irving thought Holbrook should show the others.
“Let folks see what you’re up to,” the iguana had said. “You can’t play forever, you know.”
“I’m not playing!” Holbrook said.
Irving had shrugged. Playing wasn’t a thing you did for long in Rattler’s Bend. Creatures got their season of youth—folks would give you that--but then it was time to grow up and figure out your place in the world.
Holbrook paused outside Irving’s. Inside he could hear the clatter of dishes, but no talk. The hard working animals were tired by dawn.
Holbrook could feel his long pale throat pulse as it did when he was scared or excited. He wasn’t sure which one he felt.
Holbrook squared his tiny shoulders and pushed open the door.
CLASSROOM TOOLS
"Holbrook: A Lizard’s Tale is a rare gem for a classroom teacher. Children will seek to find their own talent as well as to appreciate a variety of talents of classmates. Bonny Becker has woven a suspenseful tale of artistic animals that will promote meaningful classroom discussion." - Linda Easterly, Third-grade Teacher, Littleton, Colorado
Dowload Mrs. Easterly's Unit Plan for Holbrook: A Lizard's Tale
