Review of I Wonder Who Stretched the Giraffe's Neck
by Caleb Powell (with a little help from Mommy and Daddy)


I Wonder Who Stretched the Giraffe's Neck by Mona Gansberg Hodgson is about a boy named Jared and he wonders who made all the animals. His dad told him that God made all the animals. The birds, the fish, everything. Jared wonders different things about the animals -- like who stretched the giraffe's neck since "giraffes have the longest neck of any animal" he can think of

Jared wonders a lot of other things about animals, too. He wonders why owls can twist their heads around. He wonders why leopards have spots all over them. He remembers when he had the chicken pox and had spots all over him, so he wonders if leopards have the chicken pox, too. Jared wonders why jackrabbits have big ears and where zebras got their stripes. He learns that God had reasons for making each animal different.

My favorite picture in this book is a picture of a snake creeping up on the owl. At the end of book, children can connect the dots to find out where Jared's favorite animal lives and can draw and write about their favorite animals.


Caleb is a 7-year-old first-grader who is doing very well in school. He enjoys the outdoors and welcomes every opportunity to play outside with his friends. He is an avid football fan and plays Flag Football, Soccer and Basketball. Because of his high interest in football, his parents are currently helping him to master the names of the United States by matching states to the names of professional and college football teams. Caleb's thoroughly enjoying that lesson!



April 1, 2003