Elliot's Emergency

Alison Mews is co-ordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services at
Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Elliot’s Emergency describes the plight of a little stuffed moose who
accidentally rips his leg seam and valiantly endures the efforts of the
other toys to mend it. In another adventure, Elliot Bakes a Cake, the
toy friends try to make a surprise birthday cake for Lionel, but have
some trouble following the recipe. They interpret the directions
literally, with humor reminiscent of the Amelia Bedelia books, but
unfortunately the cake burns while they wait for it to “spring up.”
As cooking terminology may be unfamiliar to children, they may miss the
humor until it is explained. That aside, both books end happily through
solutions discovered by the toys themselves. Although the books are
similar in look to the Franklin books, there are no ethical dilemmas in
these stories, just endearing animals cooperatively solving simple
problems. Andrea Beck, a plush toy designer, uses a pencil crayon to
create soft and cuddly characters that will capture children’s hearts.
Recommended.