Mr. Nogginbody and the Childish Child

July 1, 2020
The Baby-Sitters Club could have told him not to lead with dessert. But there's the imperturbable Mr. Nogginbody (Mr. Nogginbody Gets a Hammer, rev. 9/19) dispensing a chocolate ice-cream soda to a mini Noggin at the start of what he seems to think will be a lovely evening. But only after the first slurp through the straw, drawn out over two suspenseful double-page spreads, and the subsequent burp does Mr. N. find out that he's supposed to serve the ice-cream soda after homework is completed, not before it is begun. Oops. A sugar high with its wanton abandon and incidental destruction ensues, and Mr. N. discovers his inner child. Things go a little over-the-heads-of-babes at this point, but no matter: the relationship is genuine, and the antics are all the funnier for Shannon's fastidious, mainly ink depictions of the mayhem and its hapless actors. Mr. Nogginbody is, let's face it, creepy-looking, and the kid is no prize. But they are clearly both drawn with love.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2020
The Baby-Sitters Club could have told him not to lead with dessert. But there's the imperturbable Mr. Nogginbody (Mr. Nogginbody Gets a Hammer, rev. 9/19) dispensing a chocolate ice-cream soda to a mini Noggin at the start of what he seems to think will be a lovely evening. But only after the first slurp through the straw, drawn out over two suspenseful double-page spreads, and the subsequent burp does Mr. N. find out that he's supposed to serve the ice-cream soda after homework is completed, not before it is begun. Oops. A sugar high with its wanton abandon and incidental destruction ensues, and Mr. N. discovers his inner child. Things go a little over-the-heads-of-babes at this point, but no matter: the relationship is genuine, and the antics are all the funnier for Shannon's fastidious, mainly ink depictions of the mayhem and its hapless actors. Mr. Nogginbody is, let's face it, creepy-looking, and the kid is no prize. But they are clearly both drawn with love. Roger Sutton

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 15, 2020
In a second installment, the well-intentioned but na�ve protagonist takes on a babysitting gig. Egg-shaped like its guardian, the pint-sized terror sports a sailor suit. "Snookums" is first seen guzzling a chocolate soda with a straw. In a comedic bit that kids will love, the hand-lettered "sluurrrp!" is inhaled into the glass over four pages. The subsequent "Buurrrp!" erupts over three, wilting the vase of flowers on the host's table. Too late, Mr. Nogginbody is informed that the soda is supposed to follow the homework, but the now-energized child has the TV remote, and the chase is on. The ink drawings on white paper are activated with swaths of color. Panels of varying sizes signal discrete actions, and perspectives shift to focus attention and create interest. As the babysitter turns playful--and the two bounce on the couch--he observes: "You are a childish child!" The upside-down charge retorts (in text that is also upside down): "You're a grownupish grownup!" The climax portrays the adult crashing into the ceiling and breaking the couch on the way down. The two have an emotional exchange, each fearing they will be "in deep doo-doo" when the mother returns. Luckily, Mr. Nogginbody knows his way around a hammer; repairs, homework, and mutual soda partaking are completed in short order. A visual joke awaits close observers on the final page. Once again, a spirited Shannon narrative shows that when hearts are opened to each other, affection and harmony follow. (Picture book. 4-7)

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