Big Words for Little People

October 1, 2008
PreS-Gr 2-Throughout the trials and errors of growing up, children are bound to hear some big words from the adults around themwords that are big in size and in meaning. In rhyming verse, Curtis explains some of these important terms and just when young listeners might encounter them. "If you need some time/to just be alone, /for doing weird dancing, /to sit still as stone, /if someone is there/and you need to pee, /then say loud and clear, 'Hey, I need PRIVACY!'" Through the course of an average day, the spunky multicultural siblings depicted in Cornell's childlike watercolors encounter many other concepts, including "consequence," "cooperate," "appropriate," "patience," "family," "respect," and "love." Each word is highlighted in hand lettering by the illustrator. Some of the verses are awkwardly worded in order to complete the rhyme, but the author's fans are unlikely to care. More notably, Curtis once again demonstrates her trademark sensibility for childhood's simultaneously awkward and silly moments while focusing on the positive values learned from these experiences. Cornell keeps the tone ever lighthearted with her charmingly busy illustrations. This is a solid addition to any picture-book collection and a must-have where the author has a strong following."Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2008
Preschool-G The eight picture books Curtis and Cornell have collaborated on over the past 15 years offer cheerful, kids-eye views of the world. This onebids to improve childrens vocabulary with quick but entertaining lessons about dealing with some of the usual challenges of a young life. In bright, bouncing rhymes, the young narrator thus advises her younger readers to ask for privacy when they need to be alone, to persevere when they cant find the right puzzle piece, and to endeavor to cooperate at the shoe store. Cornells playful watercolorshave a similarbright, bouncy, spontaneous quality and contain plenty of diverting detailsthe long line of people waiting for the elaborate water slide is arranged to spell out the word patience. At the end of the book, the narrator gets to three big words that are pretty short but nonetheless crucially important: family, respect, and love. With their unpreachy appreciation of differences and imperfections, Curtis and Cornell manage to make their message fresh.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2009
A rhyming text introduces readers to more than a dozen polysyllabic words (cooperate, different, disgusting). Curtis isn't at her best here: readers will already know most of the featured words, and several rhymes are grammatically mystifying ("Responsible people try not to forget / to water Mom's bonsai or the table to set"). Fortunately, Cornell's exuberant kid-celebrating art is up to snuff.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)