Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

School Library Journal
PreSchool-K—Bambi, the fawn made popular by Disney's animated movie in 1942, experiences his first day of life in this picture book. Unfazed by the hustle and bustle of the forest, a doe cleans and nuzzles her new son as he slowly awakens to experience his new life. Realistic images of deer rendered in burnt orange oil paints contrast nicely with the green, sun-dappled foliage of the forest. Illustrations vary little from one spread to the next and seem to portray Bambi and his mother in a state of suspended animation. The text, taken directly from the original English translation of Salten's novel Bambi, ein Leben im Walde (Bambi: A Life in the Woods), proves rich and intricate. Indeed, readers will find their tongues tripping over sentences such as, "The whole forest resounded with myriad voices, was penetrated by them in a joyous agitation." Moreover, the subject matter—the tender bonding moment directly following childbirth—is more apt to be appreciated by new mothers than by children. Aside from Bambi aficionados, this book may have trouble finding a suitable audience.—Madeline Walton-Hadlock, San Jose Public Library, CA
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