Dandy Daddy Long Legs, by Anat Tour (Anat Tour, San Diego, 2019).
Book Review by Dennis Moore
October 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - Anat Tour, East County (San Diego) resident and high school math teacher, has written another of her many children’s book which is inspired and sparked by her kids, friends, and animals she meets; Dandy Daddy Long Legs. As a matter of fact, one of the characters in this fanciful book, “Jeanne on a Bike”, is actually inspired by one of her friends; Jeanne (her daughter named her that).Having written a number of reviews of Tour’s children’s books, namely Mama’s Shoe and The Rainbow Animals, it is clear to me that she has a passion for writing and expressing it through stories that will resonate with young children. It certainly helps that she has young children of her own.
The author has a distinctive presence and unique style in her writing, which is readily apparent, from the colors and illustrations in her books to her humor that she projects through the various characters in her stories. Tour explains this presence and style in a radio interview on our “East County Magazine Live!” radio show here.
Tour, a former singer and international model, tells stories in her own inimitable way. She also loves to visit schools to read her books to children. She brings real life to every story by adding a sprinkle of imagination.
Dandy Daddy Long Legs is typical of her previous books, as it is written to excite and arouse the imagination of young children, as well as to entertain them. The author states: “Meet Dandy! He’s NOT a Spider! Follow him as he meets new friends and learns how to tie his shoes.” I imagine myself or any parent reading this book to a young child, which is so colorfully illustrated.
Tour further states and describes in her book: “He has eight long legs, spiky hair … and feet that always get dirty … with every step he takes.” Also; “That’s eight steps of pure filth! Yuck!”A particular passage in Dandy Daddy Long Legs resonates with me, as I am sure it will with other parents, as stated: “Along came Jeanne on a Bike. Oh my gosh, I can’t bear to see you cry! What happened? My shoelaces untied and I fell. I don’t know how to tie them. Well, I prefer shoes without laces, said Jeanne on a Bike. I can help you now, but you’ll have to learn how to tie them yourself.”
Tour’s friend “Jeanne” whom the character “Jeanne on a bike” is derived from, is pictured here.
Actually, Tour recently indicated to me that she loves to visit schools to read her books to children, further indicating that she loves the interaction with kids, as pictured here.Having read a number of the author’s books, Dandy Daddy Long Legs, may very well be the impetus towards Tour utilizing all of her characters into her own TV show, akin to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Her material is just that rich and I certainly hope she moves in that direction. After all, it is the next logical path for this talented author.ennis Moore has been the Associate Editor of the East County Magazine in San Diego and the book review editor for SDWriteway, an online newsletter for writers in San Diego that has partnered with the East County Magazine, as well as a freelance contributor to EURweb based out of Los Angeles. Mr. Moore can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you can follow him on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8.
