Do's and Don'ts

May 1, 1999
PreS-Gr 1-A set of clever, small-sized offerings illustrated with boldly outlined minimalist drawings done in primary colors. The round, stick-figure characters are presented with green faces, yellow faces, blue hair, and green hair, and are often amusingly out of proportion. Do's and Don'ts is a balanced selection of the advisable and the ludicrous. "Do help keep the house clean/Don't vacuum up the cat." Alternating silly and serious suggestions makes the sensible advice palatable for kids. The Okay Book is a refreshingly agenda-free affirmation of individuality. "It's okay to wear two different socks...It's okay to wear glasses...It's okay to eat all the frosting off your birthday cake." Things That Make You Feel... gently reminds readers of the balance in their lives, "Good chicken soup/Bad chicken pox." This Is My Hair is straightforward and humorous: "This is my Hair in pigtails/This is my Hair with spaghetti and meatballs in it." A short, but appropriate message from the author at the end of the book states, "No matter how your hair looks, always feel good about yourself." All four titles offer reassuring and kindhearted lessons.-Christy Norris Blanchette, Valley Cottage Library, NY

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 1999
Small square books consisting of stick-figure art done in primary colors try to promote diversity. Fairly straightforward declarations, such as "It's okay to be short," coexist with sillier statements such as "It's okay to put fish in your hair." The self-esteem boosting agenda is certainly not new, but kids might find its packaging appealing.

(Copyright 1999 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)