Taffy Saltwater's Yummy Summer Day

March 15, 2013
Taffy Saltwater and her friends set out to build the most spectacular sand castle ever. When Taffy and her animated stuffed bunny, Rigby Rabbit, and two-legged beach ball, Rollo, arrive at the beach, they are greeted by the sights, sounds and crowds of the boardwalk. When the wind blows Rollo and the beach umbrella far away, Taffy and an ever-growing posse ride the enormous, animate blow-up toy, Bob the Sea Monster, far away from the crowds to where Rollo has come to rest. When this gaudy troupe--which includes Mr. Footer the Hot Dog Man, Edna the Lemon-Ice Lady and Chris the Lifeguard--makes it to the unpopulated beach, they finally build their castle, and it's a beauty. On each page, three little human boys watch all the action, finally hopping on the blow-up monster and helping with the eventual castle building. No explanation is given for their presence, leaving readers to wonder who they are and why they join Taffy. The absence of caregiving adults also strikes an odd chord. Occasionally, some of the words in the text are printed in oversized font, but there is no apparent rhyme or reason to this. Supersaturated colors and a cartoonish style add to the fantastical elements of the story and make the bustle of the boardwalk even busier--and a bit more sinister--than life. A muddled and not particularly pleasant tale of a day at the beach. (Picture book. 3-6)

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May 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-Taffy; her beach ball, Rollo; and her stuffed toy, Rigby Rabbit, arrive at the shore and search for the perfect place to build a sand castle. As Rollo is setting up their umbrella, he is carried away by a gust of wind. "'Hang on, Rollo, ' Taffy shouted." She and Rigby, along with Mr. Footer the Hot Dog Man, Edna the Lemon-Ice Lady, and Chris the Lifeguard jump on the back of Bob the Sea Monster, Taffy's large inflatable toy. They ride the wind to aid Rollo. The beach ball lands on a deserted area and is befriended by a lone seagull. When all the others arrive, Taffy declares that they have now found just the spot to build a spectacular sand castle. The illustrations are colorful and appealing, but the bland text is unlikely to engage readers.-Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa

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