Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

A little boy dreams that he's a manatee, escaping the confines of his bedroom to cavort under the sea. The text humorously plays off words that almost rhyme with "manatee": "I'm every bit as wrinkled as my grann-atee / No difference between my face and fann-atee." Unfortunately, the loose color images culminate in a final joke that doesn't quite work. The musical score and a CD featuring the song are provided.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>A boy dreams he's a manatee in Lithgow's buoyant offering. "From time to time I dream / that I'm a manatee," he says as water rises in his room. "Undulating underneath the sea / Unshackled by the chains of idle vanity, / A modest manatee, / That's me." When a massive manatee holds up a full-length mirror, the boy, now floating above his bed, sees the reflection of a manatee calf ("I look just like a chubby brown banana-tee"). Later, he "[sprinkles] seaweed on [his] Raisin Bran-atee." Sophisticated and silly at the same time, Lithgow's verse will keep kids on their toes. Meanwhile, Hoyt's colored pencils, pen, and ink spreads overflow with humorous aquatic activity. Words and music are included, as is a sing-along CD. Pure fun. (Picture book. 5-8)</p>

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Adding to his oeuvre of rhyming song-book hybrids, Lithgow (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The Remarkable Farkle McBride) heads under the sea to extol the joys of being a manatee. A boy dreams of taking on the form of this favorite sea animal—"No difference between my face and fann-atee,/ .../ The least appealing creature on the planet-ee." The youngster and his fellow manatees "nose along the cozy ocean floor" snacking on seaweed (it garnishes their "Raisin Bran-atee"), exploring new nooks and crannies and relishing their "world of silence and of sanity." Like Lithgow's previous works, this one takes a read-through or two to fully appreciate the rhythm and sometimes sophisticated tone; the CD recording brings it all home in fine fashion, however, and will soon have many adults and children singing along. Young readers will likely fancy the silliness of the wordplay here and will enjoy being challenged by the vocabulary, an aspect of the "stately" personality Lithgow gives his character ("No one near will ever hear me use profanity,/ Because a manatee/ Has his image to maintain"). Hoyt's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">One-Dog Canoe) pencil-and-watercolor art possesses graceful, fluid lines befitting the underwater setting. The blubbery gray and wrinkly manatees convey a sweet and unexpected charm. The artist wittily extends the story, too, adding playful elements that enhance the dream-fantasy aspects of the tale and even making an anti-litter statement (the manatees give a careless boater a taste of his own medicine). Ages 5-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

<EMPHASIS TYPE=""BOLD"">FYI:<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">A CD containing Lithgow's vocals as well as an instrumental of the song is packaged with the book.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-Lithgow applies his facility with music and language to create a witty, whimsical underwater fantasy. Based on the premise of a boy who dreams that he is a manatee, this song has sophisticated vocabulary and a dignified cadence and rhyme. Many elementary school children will not understand words like "inanity," "urbanity," "idle vanity," and "encumbered," so adults may need to translate the verses. Also, reading aloud requires practice in order to master the rhythm. However, music is the universal language understood by all, so just pop in the accompanying CD and stride along with the humorous lyrics and steady beat. Done in colored pencils, pen, and ink, the full- and double-page illustrations are fun and engaging. Hoyt's smirking manatees are positively endearing. An amusing accompaniment to units on this popular species.-Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.