Book Review of Winslow Scarecrow: Scarecrows Are Supposed to Be Scary
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The Children’s Book Review
Written by Stephen G. Bowling
Illustrated by Vitali Dudarenka
Ages: 4+ | 34 Pages
Publisher: Valley of Mexico | ISBN: 978-1-950957-32-3
What to Expect: Farming, crows, identity, democracy, teamwork, problem-solving, and Conflict Resolution
Just in time for fall festivals, corn mazes, and Halloween, this beautifully illustrated picture book centers around the diverse personalities of a group of quirky, opinionated scarecrows.
Scarecrows are supposed to be scary—everyone knows that; it’s even in the name. However, Winslow isn’t scary—he’s friendly, cheerful, and welcoming to the crows! Winslow’s cheery greetings spark a debate among the other scarecrows: do scarecrows really need to be scary and mean? Could there be a better way? In a unique twist, while crows circle overhead, the scarecrows make a democratic decision. Each unique scarecrow presents arguments for or against scaring the crows, and they all agree that being scary isn’t nice! And since no law says they can’t change, that’s exactly what they do. Winslow and the other scarecrows vote to all be friendly, sharing the fallen corn and helping both the crows and the farmer. Motion carried!
Readers will love the entertaining spectacle of the scarecrows arguing, imagining their different voices and characteristics, while learning important lessons about identity, fitting in, and how to make decisions democratically. The softly colored artwork is full of rich detail, not only showing each scarecrow’s wacky clothing and construction but also having fun with facial expressions. These keep the story just on the right side of creepy, making the scarecrows too lovable to be really frightening. The rhyming text, combined with the emphasis on multiple voices, makes the story perfect for reading out loud.
Winslow Scarecrow is an enjoyable autumn story that will have readers clamoring to build a scarecrow of their own.
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About the Author
Stephen G. Bowling is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Much like Peter Pan, Steve never wanted to grow up. Or rather, while he didn’t mind getting older, he never wanted to lose the child-like enchantment of imagination and wonder. Creating colorful worlds and stories for children has allowed Steve to preserve his own imagination while sharing the joy of learning with children worldwide. He currently has six children’s books published, and his books have also won several illustration awards.
Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Brandeis University. He is an entrepreneur who has worked on and holds several U.S. Patents. He heads The Prometheum Foundation, a non-profit philosophical organization that helps teach students critical and analytical thinking, freedom of thought, and entrance into the marketplace of ideas. He is a lifelong weightlifter, an avid student of history and philosophy, and fascinated with astrophysics.
For more information, visit www.StephenGBowling.com.
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