Review by A. E.
Jaskiewicz
It’s
springtime, which means that the Vultures will be
coming back to their summer home. Little
Chipmunk doesn’t like the Vultures because they are funny looking. No matter how much his mother tells him not
to, Little Chipmunk is going to keep making fun of the Vultures because
they
are different. That’s when Mother
Chipmunk concocts a plan to make sure that Little Chipmunk learns a
lesson,
while also learning to make friends with the Vultures.
The question is, will her plan work?
Vultures
in the Cemetery is a story about learning to
appreciate the beauty of all creatures, even if they do look different
from
you. Most of the time, there is a reason
that someone or something looks the way it does, so everyone should
learn the
whole story before they ridicule and judge others.
There
are many different animals that pop up throughout
the story, but mostly the story centers around the Chipmunks and the
Vultures. Mother Chipmunk definitely
fulfills her duties of being a good mother figure.
She is stern but loving, which is similar to
how most kids view their own mothers.
Little Chipmunk is mostly good, but still has a lot to learn,
which
seems like a character most kids could relate to. However,
kids could also easily relate to the
young Vulture, especially if they’ve ever been picked on.
So, generally kids should find the characters
fun and relatable.
The
illustrations in the book will be very helpful,
especially if kids aren’t familiar with what a Vulture or some of the
other
animals may look like. Aside from that,
kids will enjoy the colorful and realistic pictures that show up on
various
pages in the book. There are not
pictures on every page, however, which may not be as interesting for
some very
young readers, but kids who are starting to read on their own will
certainly
not mind.
There
is a corresponding lesson guide to go along with
this book. So, if teachers would like to
use the book as part of their lesson the lesson guide is a helpful tool
for
them. Plus, it will help get kids more
involved with the story.
Overall,
Vultures in the Cemetery is a cute and charming
book for kids, especially around the kindergarten or primary grade age
range. It does have a positive message
for kids to learn, and the story is told in a cute way.
Plus, the book title may appeal to some
reluctant readers, especially if they are boys.