REVIEWS
School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-When a dollmaker finishes piecing together a doll made of cloth scraps, she names him Zigzag. His mouth is crooked and his fabric mismatched, but the woman is sure that some child will love him. The other toys taunt Zigzag because he is so ugly and push him off the shelf into the trash. When it is put out, he is picked up by an owl that drops him into a meadow. There he meets some field mice who lead him to the little girl who loves him and turns his crooked mouth into a smile. Eye-catching illustrations fabricated from cloth scraps create captivating, colorful collages set against a bright, white background... ...nicely composed, and the happy ending should please young readers
The Advocate Magazine
— Greg Langley
This sweet story centers around a little doll that a doll maker sews together from scraps. She puts a jagged, embroidered mouth on the doll and calls it "Zigzag" after the line its mouth forms. The other dolls make fun of Zigzag and knock him off the shelf. He accidentally falls into a waste basket and then gets dumped out into a dumpster. Zigzag gets out of the trash and sets out on a journey in search of happiness. Of course he finds it. Czernecki's illustrations make the pages look as if they were quilted together from bits and pieces of bright cloth. A very nice tale for very young readers.
from a school library consortium... Holt Elementary School,
— Friesen Laura
When a doll maker makes ZigZag, she promises him that someone will love him. But he looks so different from all the other dolls. One night, the other dolls push him from the shelf and he lands in the garbage can. He struggles out of the garbage and finds himself attacked by an owl and befriended by mice. He finally finds a little girl to love him and his whole life changes. The bold, bright cover is attractive and attention-getting. Primary colors, patterns and shapes make this a good book for teaching those elements. The story of compassion for those who are different and hope for love and a place to belong is one that all children should hear over and over. This book is recommended for use in libraries and classrooms.
Polish American Journal
This oversized colorful book is bound to fascinate youngsters in San Souci's tale of a stuffed doll. The doll is made of scraps, patchwork clothes and spiky hair-and a zigzag mouth. The doll maker tells him some child would love him. Other dolls on the shelf laugh at Zigzag, saying no child would want or love him. They knock him off the shelf, and he falls into the wastebasket. The next morning the doll maker empties her wastebasket into the dustbin. That night an owl swoops down and plucks Zigzag from the dustbin, thinking he might have a good meal. When he realizes Zigzag is a doll he drops him into a thicket of grass, where field mice live. It is the mice that change Zigzag's life, bringing him to a little girl just looking for a doll to love. Children will love to examine the colorful dolls, animals and the little girl on the bright and large pages.
CM Magazine
— Helen Norrie
This picture book…has exceptional illustrations. Stefan Czernicki's brilliant artwork has enhanced over 30 books for children. Zigzag is a book about patchwork dolls, and Czernicki's illustrations look like brilliant collages cut out of man-coloured fabric. Children can hardly help but be intrigued….Youngest readers, those between two and four, will enjoy the story as well as the pictures…Highly Recommended.
