>So which is it?

by Roger Sutton
Aug 01, 2008 | Filed in Articles & Opinion
>Two books reviewed in the forthcoming issue of the Horn Book Guide:

From Bearport, Meish Goldish's Deadly Praying Mantis

From Lerner, Sandra Markle's Praying Mantises: Hungry Insect Heroes

Nothing* p.o.'d the late Zena Sutherland more than a nonfiction children's book ascribing virtue or venality to animals.

*Except maybe simultaneous translation in dialogue, as in "'Hola, Juan!' exclaimed the pretty teacher to the new brown-eyed and chubby-cheeked boy, 'Hello.'"
Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton

Editor Emeritus Roger Sutton was editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc., from 1996-2021. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his MA in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a BA from Pitzer College in 1978.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

Melinda

>"Oh, no!" cried the bamboo. "Here comes the Deadly Panda, alas."

Whereas a praying mantis will eat its siblings as they emerge from the egg sac, and they will grab bugs and devour them ALIVE, so yeah, I think "hungry" and "deadly" are fitting attributes for mantises.

Posted : Aug 04, 2008 09:22

Anonymous

>Sure, but so does everything else. Yet there's a shortage of books on Deadly Dolphins and Deadly Pandas and Deadly Bunnies.

Posted : Aug 01, 2008 10:42

Christine

>Yes, but "deadly" doesn't necessarily mean evil and cruel. They kill stuff. It's a fact.

Posted : Aug 01, 2008 08:07

Monica Edinger

>I'm sure Cesar Millan would also have a problem with one of his clients using "virtue or venality" to describe one of their pack. (Butch, I mean, Lucy is neither, by the way.)

Posted : Aug 01, 2008 05:39

Anonymous

>"'Hola, Juan!' exclaimed the friendly bear to the venal brown-eyed and chubby-cheeked squirrel, 'Hello.'"

Posted : Aug 01, 2008 03:51

RELATED 

READ ROGER

Fanfare 2021 Booklist
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

January/February 2022 Horn Book Magazine starred reviews
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

Happy Birthday to Me (and Maybe You?): A Note from Me (Oct 26, 2021)
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

Jerry Pinkney (1939-2021)
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

A Note from Me (Oct 8, 2021)
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

November/December 2021 Horn Book Magazine starred reviews
by Roger Sutton
More
RECOMMENDED
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?