Starfish » (Revised)

Edith Thacher Hurd was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She wrote more than seventy-five children's books, including Starfish, I Dance in My Red Pajamas and the Johnny Lion books, many of which were illustrated by her husband, Clement Hurd.

Brickman has done startling new cutpaper collage illustrations for Hurd's beginningreader book on starfish. Watercolor washes, marbling techniques, and shocking colors portray the starfish in all their chromatic glory, while the simple text points out their intrinsic oddities, such as the fact that they can regrow lost limbs.

Children's Literature

This delightful book, aimed at preschoolers and kindergarteners, clearly and elegantly presents the world of the starfish to its readers. It is part of the basic science concepts series, "Let's-Read-and-Find-Out." With the help of Robin Brickman's enticing collage illustrations, Ms. Hurd introduces and explains about all types of starfish, such as the sunflower, the basket star, brittle stars and mud stars. Children will also learn what starfish eat, how they lay their eggs, where they may be found and even what happens when they lose one of their rays. This title, along with the others in this engaging science series, would be a welcome addition to any classroom library. 2000 (orig. 1962), HarperTrophy, $15.95 and $4.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Catherine C. Wright