Book Review: Eli by Bill Peet

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun story, great illustrations, good theme

Cons: Not an original plot

The Bottom Line:

While the story is

Variation on a theme

Still good picture book

The Lion and the Vulture 

It wasn't until we were looking for picture books for my younger brother that we found the charming books of Bill Peet.  His picture books focus on animals as the characters and usually revolve around someone who has a serious problem until that problem turns out to be a huge strength.  Eli is a variation on that theme and is a fun story.

Eli, the once proud lion, has lost much of his ferociousness due to his old age.  In fact, he no longer dines with the rest of his pride but must make do with the left overs that the vultures eat.  He hates having to even associate with them.

One day he saves Vera, a vulture, from a jackal attack, and the rest of the flock want to adopt him as one of their own.  Eli will have nothing to do with that.  But might the vultures be able to help when some hunters arrive?

Bill Peet spent years working at Disney, and you can tell as you look at his illustrations.  They are a mix of realistic and cartoon.  The characters obviously have personalities and expressions, but they also look pretty close to the way they would in nature.  Combine that with the vibrant colors, and you've got art work you can look at for hours.

This story is told in prose.  Usually Bill Peet is shelved in the picture book section and not the easy reader.  Some of the words here would be hard for a new reader to sound out, but they would certainly understand what is happening as someone reads it to them.

The plot is pretty similar to several others he has done over the years, and that might be the biggest failing.  However, that doesn't make it any less fun, and it has some decent suspense for a picture book.  The obvious moral about looking for the good in everyone because we all have value is an important one for kids to learn and adults to be reminded of.

Bill Peet doesn't seem to quite be a household name when it comes to picture books, and that's an oversight.  The illustrations are great and the stories are fun.  Pick up Eli, and you'll soon be looking for more of his fun books.