Let's Walk Up The Wall

KIRKUS REVIEW Anything you can do I can do -- smarter. This starts out, innocently, as an introduction to the abilities of animals--""CAN YOU WALK UP A WALL? What CAN walk up a wall?... CAN YOU FLY? What CAN fly?""--switches in mid-story to the abilities of people--""BUT there are many things YOU can do that animals CAN'T co.... Can an animal throw a ball? Can animals read a book?""-- winds up in an anthropocentric ambush--""You can even do many of the special things that animals do.... YOU might be the one to think of a way to walk up the wall, like a fly."" To equate the natural abilities of animals, adapted to their environment, is an oversimplification of the role of each, a distortion of their relationship. The illustrations, in neon nightmare shades of fuchsia, chartreuse and viridian, are blinding embodiments of a dubious idea. To reach his own-- or why be a fly?