San Souci, Robert D. Zigzag. Illustrated by Stefan Czernecki. August House Little Folk, 2005. ISBN 0874837642. $16.95. 32 p. Reviewer: Marsha D. Broadway Reading Level: Preschool, Primary Rating: Outstanding Genre: Picture Book Subject: Dolls--Juvenile fiction; Mice--Juvenile fiction; Toys--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews A dollmaker stitches from scraps a strange looking doll with spiked hair and tiny wings. She names the creation Zigzag as she sews his sad, zigzag mouth. The dollmaker assures him, "Some child will love you," but that night the other dolls and stuffed animals make fun of him and squeeze him off the shelf into the wastebasket. In the morning, the dollmaker unknowingly empties Zigzag into the rubbish and so begins his quest to find the right child to love him and give him a reason to smile. Master storyteller San Souci brings his folkloric style to this simple story of rejection and acceptance. As with traditional folktales, there are lessons to learn from Zigzag's story, and the text provides adults with the opportunity to open a discussion with young people on topics of physical differences, discrimination, name-calling, rejection, and true friends. Bright, bold fabric and paper figures on a white background create characters that interact with one another and the text. With its eye-popping illustrations and accessible theme, this picture book makes an appealing read-aloud for families, school classes, and library story times. Beware parents and grandparents: some young readers may want their own Zigzag to love.
