However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. 4-8)Ī paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere. These slapstick foibles may scare very young readers, but those old enough to put the goofiness in context will eat up this cacophony of collage. Klutziness provides him with ample opportunities to mix cut-outs of boots and faces with brightly painted, loosely drawn bodies and landscapes. Drescher (who illustrated Richard Wilbur's Runaway Opposites, 1995) gives the illustrations the lead in the story.

When the whole family hangs up their boots, their fame as clowns is eclipsed by their graceful highwire act. When Louise Klutz yanks off her boot, her feet are stinky, but they are nimble enough, unshod, to allow her to dance and walk tightrope. A head-on collision with Professor Squirmworm results in an amazing discovery by the circus caravan leader: Under the big top, the Klutzes make excellent clowns! And that's not all. ``Lumpish yokels!'' people retort, observing the Klutzes' fumblings as the family clomps ungracefully by in their way-too-big boots. Stumbling and bumbling their way through life, the members of the Klutz family trip down stairs, spill their meals, and almost drop the baby on its head.

Klutz by Henrik Drescher