Guess What?

Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs Down!! Be wary of some of these reviews!
Review: I am very skeptical about the raving reviews for this book. I and my 3-year-old love Mem Fox. We found this one at the library and I checked it out without previewing it based on the reputation of the author. When I read it with my daughter, she was attentive while I read, but unusually quiet. She certainly didn't find it "hilarious". I was concerned with the eery, almost hallucinatory style of the illustrations and abundance of not very subtle phallic symbols (see reviews below for more detail). I quit reading the book half-way through and I finished it on my own later. I thought the storyline was cute, but found the illustrations completely inappropriate for children. I am surprised and dissapointed that Ms. Fox would have her work associated with something so disturbing. Remember, if a book isn't doing well, anyone with a motive can write a positive review! I've learned this lesson once or twice on previous purchases!

Rating:
Summary: Absurd Negative Reviews -- This Book is Marvelous
Review: I have to laugh at some of the reviewers here. Clearly this book is not meant for 3 year olds, in the same way not all Roald Dahl books are meant for young children. This in NO WAY reduces the entertainment factor and values shown in this book. So it doesn't fit squarely in with the other books the author has written. Writers have creative license to branch out, don't they? Only an adult would understand the "significance" of the fish and snake in the underwear -- honestly. The "Sex Pistols" can only be seen on a button which partially obscures the word "sex" for obvious reasons and is and is only relevant and meaningful to an adult, the same way "Lennon Brand Shaved Fish" is also meant to elicit a private, secret grin from a parent of a certain age group. That sort of reference will go right over the heads of a child, as it is meant to. The book is wholesome. As the last illustration plate shows, it's meant to destroy the Salem-esque archetype of witches as "bad" and "scary," as the young girl is exhilarated to be with a supposedly spooky, crazy woman who turns out to be her mentor -- they are out in the moonlight, she's eager to learn, excited, and there's a warm bond between them.

This book is meant for children who are just about to start reading books without pictures and are phasing out of illustrated books. It's wonderful, clever, magical, detailed, and funny. I wish there were more childrens' books like it.

Rating:
Summary: Great Illustrations
Review: My daughter absolutely loves the illustrations in this book. She thinks the pictures are so silly. Mem Fox is making you guess throughout the book about a crazy old lady and this makes it a very fun book to read. We got it from the library and now we must purchase it!

Rating:
Summary: Great Illustrations
Review: My toddler and I love this book. It is so much fun. The text is sparse but interactive--you have to keep guessing things about Daisy O'Grady; in the end she is revealed to be a witch, a friendly witch, however. The award-winning illustrations are just superb. They look like photographs, albeit surrealistic photographs, filled with an explosion of animals, household products, hats, you name it. One caveat: If you are afraid of/offended by witches and want books containing anything mythical/supernatural censored from school libraries, then this book is not for you.

Rating:
Summary: Just Buy It!!
Review: This is my second copy of Guess What. Preschoolers love this book.We have worn out the first copy. Guess What is one of our most requested books in the classroom,along with Tough Boris. The conversations that we have had go way beyound simple book reading. Think about the last time you read a book to a child that created conversation.Even the two year olds like this book.Daisy O'Grady is so cool.