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New Zealand artist Jane Seabrook has succeeded in creating one of the most charming and amusing gift books ever! Using captivating watercolor animal portraits to illustrate aphorisms, many of them with new twists, she puts parenthood into perspective on many levels--and does so with panache. A mother kangaroo looks into her pouch at her baby and states, "A perfect example of minority rule is...a baby in the house." A pileated woodpecker with two older chicks states, "There are few things more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own." A turtle suggests, "No matter how old a mother is...she continues to watch her middle-aged children for signs of improvement." Seabrook's art techniques allow her to pull off a book which in the hands of a lesser, less painstaking artist might be just "cute." Her paintings are rich and meticulously detailed--beautifully drawn with a sable brush of a single hair. Piling up many layers of watercolor, she builds her drawings and achieves depth, yet somehow still manages to convey a sense of spontaneity. The eyes of each animal "character" sparkle with what appears to be secret understanding of the message. Whimsical and full of surprises, this is the perfect gift book for new parents--and for those who enjoy reminiscing about "the good old days" from the safe distance of grandparenthood.
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