Phil the Ventriloquist Author:Robert Kraus Phil's ability to throw his voice bothers his parents until the night a burglar sneaks into the house. — From School Library Journal — PreSchool-Grade 2-- Phil is a young rabbit ventriloquist whose talent is not appreciated by his parents until he uses it to scare off a burglar. Kraus' simple picture book is full of the silly humor that children l... more »ove--Phil rejects a ventriloquist's dummy in favor of making household items, food, and clothing talk (he makes the eggs that his mother is scrambling say, "Don't scramble me!"). Large marker and watercolor pictures on white backgrounds will work well in group settings, and the large sans serif type can be read independently by beginning readers. While not as sophisticated as David Lord Porter's homage to ventriloquism, Help! Let Me Out (Houghton, 1982), Phil the Ventriloquist will tickle the funny bones of younger children. --David Gale, "School Library Journal"« less