Common Sense Note
William Steig's detailed cartoony style once again seamlessly portrays life as it is to be lived, if not believed.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kevin McCaffrey
In the tradition of all the wonderful Steig books, you just have to believe in the reality of magic, the power of love, and simple courage. In this book, as in all his others, you can trust Steig's instinct for language, story, and illustration to bring your child a magical combination.
Simple, cartoonlike drawings of the animals' world (thick black line, thin watercolor) turn magically complex with Tiffky's visit to the dump. All invoke key action at every twist and turn of plot, and you could almost decipher the story just from the pictures--but you'd miss half the fun!
Steig's trademark language play is in full swing with Tiffky's every adventure. Several children of varying ages laughingly repeated the odd, funny words one moment and sat wide-eyed the next, waiting for another twist in the story. But they were learning more than just words: At one point, Tiffky, completely stymied, must remind himself that Madame Tarsal had given her word. "Why worry and get wrinkles? It would happen ..." he tells himself. Hear that, stressed-out people?
Steig subtly adds other lessons: One man's garbage is Tiffky's treasure, his furnishings, his wardrobe. Hear that, consumer kids? And early in the book, there's a visual clue to the identity of his lady love.
Kids love Tiffky's sense of purpose and his simple ways and are gratified that he is rewarded in the end, despite his wacky adventures. In addition to enjoying Steig's other wonderful books of whimsy, such as The Zabajaba Jungle and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, try a much different experience with a couple of odd animals, Tony Johnston's The Iguana Brothers.
From The Book
After going straight for awhile, the arrow swerved left. Then it switched and swooped right, then it described some lazy circles and zipped off in a new direction, with Tiffky keeping apace of it. All at once it dipsy-doodled, looped off left again, zigging and zagging around trees and out into a field, where it fell to the ground.
Plot Summary:
Garbage collector Tiffky Doofky is having a really good day, but it starts getting a little weird when he pursues the love of his life according to a fortune teller's prediction. You'd think the world was conspiring against his success, but his determination brings him to the right place at the right time.
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