This large paperback book may be the best-kept secret in
young children’s literature! Remy Charlip explodes creativity on every page,
leaving readers caught between wanting to stop and study each page scrupulously
to take it all in, or hurry up to see what fantastical adventure awaits on the
next page! The wildly creative drawings are reminiscent of Dhali – only for
kids, as they contain bright primary colors and everything from animals, to
stick figures, to geometric designs. The words change size, shape, font and
direction; sometimes coinciding with the picture and other times doing their
own thing. Readers may find the
words in the middle of the page, running up the size, swirling around
themselves, or creating a design! The sentences are short and built from
beginning reader words, so your child can practice their developing
skills, or work more on deciphering the word puzzle presented on each page.
This book will definitely encourage creativity in your
child. He or she may see themselves in the drawings and want to try imitating
their style. Or perhaps they will have questions about the drawings – where
they start, where they end, or what they mean. The words are likely to get a similar reaction – plenty of
questions and requests to stay longer on a page, or to return to a previous
page. This book is easy to pick up and put down at any time, read in any order,
take along on a car ride, or simply study the pages during a quiet time.
My niece Emily and I had so much fun going
through this book (many times over!). We both giggled at the opening line, “Two
octopuses got married and walked down the aisle arm in arm in arm in arm in arm
in arm…..” Emily also enjoyed the two opposing pages that showed a mirror image
of many cats making a sordid pyramid, all saying “copy cat” to one another. It
makes you wonder which page is ‘real’ and which page is really full of
copycats! The line, “My sister’s mother’s husband’s father’s grandchild is me”
got many questions from Emily, as we worked through the sort-of word puzzle
until she understood. It was a great lesson in how we are all related!
--Audra