Straw

December 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-A companion book to precursors Spoon and Chopsticks, this third installment about another popular mealtime implement showcases Straw, a stripy fellow with many friends and "...a great thirst for being first." When zipping ahead results in an unanticipated case of brain freeze, Straw starts appreciating the slower, leisurely, and more meaningful hobby of blowing bubbles and stopping to "...smell the milk shake," along with floating off to sleep in a bubbly root beer float. He finally takes the time to savor the juicy red strawberry and swirly whipped cream in his glass. Rosenthal's quirky, offbeat humor is sure to entice readers with its silly and clever references, featuring a straw willing to bend toward a new way of life. Some of the images, however, may be somewhat unclear to youngsters. While goggle-eyed, swirly Krazy Straw is recognizably fun, young audiences may have trouble identifying the other tools used to pick up liquid: an eye dropper, funnel, and others. A turquoise pick in the shape of a palm tree may represent a utensil used to mix adult cocktails, but this will not mean much to children. Overall, kids should readily identify with the appeal of straw-slurping races, and adults will appreciate the abiding message that taking things slow has great merit. VERDICT With such a child-friendly protagonist, children may be more inclined to absorb this lesson. Who wouldn't want to "chill" in a frothy milkshake?-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2019
A cautionary tale about making experiences last. The riotous utensil community Rosenthal and Magoon introduced in Spoon (2009) and continued in Chopsticks (2012) returns for a series conclusion starring a blue-and-white-striped bendable straw who "has a great thirst for being first." Straw slurps up everything in sight, from the water in a flower bowl to a cup of tea, while friends look on in dismay. Since nobody else seems to be competing with Straw, both his fervor and their unhappiness feel ungrounded. But when Straw tries to speed through an icy drink, he's laid low by brain freeze and "his heart sank," an awfully dramatic response. Straw's friend, a novelty straw with loop-de-loop eyes, helps him appreciate the pleasures of taking in life slowly, and Straw is forever changed, suddenly appreciating the colors, textures, and experiences in the world. At bedtime, a parent kisses him and explains that "what you're feeling is called awe, Straw." By the end, "sometimes he still wants to be first. But most of the time, Straw wants to make the good things last." Magoon's energetic cartoon illustrations are fun to look at, but the lengthy story drives its point into the ground, and neither the problem nor the resolution is interesting enough to convince hasty children to slow down their central nervous systems. Doesn't quite hit the spot. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 21, 2019
In this peppy companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, bendable paper Straw, who “has a great thirst for being first,” delights in boasting to his friends when he empties his glass well before they can complete their innate tasks. “Done!” he brags, as a funnel, sand timer, and eyedropper, still plugging along, look on chagrined. But Straw discovers a downside to his competitive craze when he dives into a snow cone and eagerly slurps away, soon experiencing a “Brain Freeze!” that “did not feel good—not even one little bit.” A curlicue glass straw encourages Straw to slow down and savor, advice that Spoon reinforces: “Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the milk shake!” The late Rosenthal’s trademark wordplay is on full display, as is Magoon’s flair for giving kitchen utensils personality through a revealing shift of googly eyes, a suspicious lilt of an eyebrow, a telltale curve of a mouth. Relaxing in a frozen drink, Straw delivers the tale’s final flip line: when Spoon asks him, “What’s shakin’?” he replies, “Just chillin’. And it’s strawesome.” Ages 3–5. Agent: Amy Rennert, the Amy Rennert Agency.

November 1, 2019
Preschool-G This final installment in Rosenthal's series on common utensils and their secret lives (Spoon, 2009; Chopsticks, 2012) follows a blue-striped drinking straw. Straw is well loved by his kitchen community, but he has one slightly grating quirk: he insists on finishing everything as fast as possible. When his need for speed results in a painful brain freeze, a (friendly) crazy straw intervenes to convince Straw that some things are meant to be savored. Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the milk shake! After taking this advice to heart, Straw can't believe the magical things that appear when he takes the time to notice. Readers will appreciate the clever, punny text as well as Magoon's colorful, delightfully detailed illustrations?Straw's friends, for instance, include swizzle sticks, cocktail umbrellas, and bottle openers, and he sleeps snuggled in a paper straw wrapper. A simple story, it nonetheless imparts great wisdom in the suggestion that life should be about enjoying the moments and making the good things last.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: In 2017, we tragically lost the beloved Rosenthal to cancer. This posthumous release will be cherished by her multitude of fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)