A Barbecue for Charlotte

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

Unlike her sister Tiffany, Charlotte the moose has no interest in
frilly, feminine things, and she can’t play volleyball with the boys
because she has no antlers. So, when she spies an upended charcoal
barbecue, she immediately plops it on her head with its legs sticking up
like antlers and declares it “fabulous.” She is completely
nonplussed when the other moose laugh at her absurd headgear. It isn’t
until Tiffany runs afoul of vicious wolves and Charlotte charges to the
rescue, with her strange antlers blazoning, that she is vindicated. The
sisters make peace with each other, and the final page shows them saying
goodnight, with Tiffany’s pink hair ribbon dangling over the edge of
her flowery bed, while Charlotte’s barbecue hangs on the bedpost of
her austere bed, which is adorned with only a Hudson’s Bay blanket.

Tetro has illustrated his tale of a tomboy moose with large, bright
cartoon figures on clean white backgrounds. Using swift bold lines, he
has created animals with a comic quality and added humorous touches,
such as the bottle of “moose mousse.” Children will smile as they
absorb the gentle message of tolerance and acceptance of individual
differences. Recommended.