Where's Stretch?
by Karen Pandell, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Candlewick Press, July 2004
Hardcover, 18 pages
ISBN: 0763615943
Recommended Ages: 2 - 5
More Information: Amazon.com
Review by Sherri Allen:
Children love lift-the-flap books. Children love dogs. Author Karen Pandell and Illustrator Jill McElmurry successfully combine the two in Where's Stretch? a charming book that young kids will adore.
The family of Stretch, the dog, is getting ready for laundry day when they decide to give Stretch a bath. Of course, Stretch makes himself scarce and the search for Stretch begins. Is he in the closet? No. Is he in the bathtub? No. Where can that dog be? Your children will delight in the search for Stretch and will love the surprise at the end when Stretch's hiding place is revealed.
The text is effectively presented as family dialogue, bringing the reader into the search for Stretch and eliminating a lot of unnecessary words that would detract from the story and make things harder for the beginning reader. The story was so compelling and easy to follow, my 2-and-a-half year old memorized the book after having it only half a day. Several months later, after the newness has worn off, it is still one of her favorite books.
McElmurry's illustrations show the family searching for Stretch as they get ready for their day. The pictures, which fill the pages with scenes from Stretch's family's home, invite the reader in to participate in finding Stretch.
I highly recommend Where's Stretch? Your children will want to read it again and again; so will you. You will enjoy seeing your children's delight with each lift of a flap and the story is short and sweet so it won't drive you crazy the 150th time you read it.
