Playdates Rule!

November 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-This amusing book leaves most of the storytelling to the clever, over-the-top illustrations. A little (human) boy is excited about his first playdate. His best friend, Finley, (an elephant) arrives and the playdate has predictably disastrous results from the parents' point of view. The pals quickly discover that playdates have a lot of rules, such as "don't use your dad's bike" (the elephant has squashed it), and "don't help water your mom's plants" (Finley squirts a huge jet of water at Mom.) The story culminates when trampoline play gets Finley stuck in a hole he creates in the roof, requiring the aid of two firefighters. Finally, the playdate ends, leaving a wrecked house and exhausted and relieved parents in its wake. The text is economical and tongue-in-cheek, with the illustrations telling the lion's share of the story. The contrast between the boy's words and the visual depiction in the cartoon-style illustrations is what makes it both interesting and funny. McClurkan takes advantage of his space, combining full bleed spreads with single page illustrations and spot art and maximizing his use of white space. The elephant on the roof scene requires readers to turn the book from horizontal to vertical. The square-bespectacled narrator and sweet-faced Finley are both appealing. The large trim size and short text lend themselves well to reading aloud in a group. VERDICT There's nothing new here, but libraries in search of humorous picture books with short texts will find this a pleasant addition.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017
A pachyderm playdate is not quite what Mom and Dad had in mind. Ezra, a white tot with thick, boxy glasses and a smattering of freckles, has a friend coming to play. Mom and Dad (both white) expect a "little friend," but they are mistaken. A great big elephant named Finley comes galumphing through the door. Finley and Ezra have a lot of fun until the adults start making rules. Silly rules like: "No running in the house!" or "Only use inside voices." There are even more rules outside: "Don't ride your dad's bike." (Elephants are quite heavy.) "Don't help water your mom's plants." (Squirting water from one's trunk can be powerful.) And "Don't dance in the tree house." (For obvious reasons.) But when there is suddenly an elephant-sized hole in the roof, that's when the playdate needs to end. Tables are knocked over, stair railings our broken, and walls are cracked--Mom and Dad are frazzled. But Ezra has had a grand time. McClurkan's endearing pachyderm pulls a variety of expressions, from glee through worried to apologetic. The family is homogeneous, but neighborhood residents exhibit pleasing diversity. Even a list of rules can't stop the ruckus or the fun. (Picture book. 3-6)

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