Tilly the Trickster

July 25, 2011
At the outset of actress Shannon's debut children's book, her saucy heroine announces, "I love, love, love to play tricks." What follows is more a how-to guide for some not-too-malicious pranks than a story with much of an arc. After dressing for school, Tilly pretends she's still asleep to surprise her mother, and her next trick spirals into slapstick as an attempt to make her father spill his water results in the breakfast table overturning, sending food and family members flying. Hoyt's (Piggies in the Kitchen) boisterous watercolor and ink cartoons expand the narrative with playful hyperbole. Steam shoots from a teacher's ears when Tilly gives her a spicy cinnamon candy, and when the principal sends Tilly home, she feigns remorse while winking at readers, jumping for joy in her imagination ("No school!"). Even after Tilly's family plays a trick on her, it's clear she has no intention of mending her ways, which avoids a didactic conclusion, but also any real character development. Though Tilly's high-spirited voice gives her story some oomph, this won't be a must re-read for most kids. Ages 4â8.

April 15, 2011

Young Tilly is not just a trickster; she is a wayward imp of the just-this-side-of-mean school of mischief making.

She pricks a discreet hole in daddy's paper cup at breakfast. "Daddy doesn't look happy," deadpans Tilly; he sure doesn't, and Hoyt catches his appalled, rubbery face to a T. She tricks her teacher into eating a hot cinnamon cookie disguised as a strawberry treat (the teacher is not amused, nor is the school principal: "I am not pleased with her petty little pranks," he says to her hastily summoned parents). But when Tilly fills her brother's Oreo with toothpaste, making him sick in the process, doubts start to cloud her conscience. And when her family turns the tables and fills her slippers with shaving cream—ay caramba!—enough with the tricks...until tomorrow (which promises to involve a spider). Clearly, Tilly's pique of conscience is only a glancing episode; she's really just a naughty girl. Hoyt's artwork is a delightful throwback to the Little Rascals' world—not guileless; actually rather difficult—and in keeping with that television program, the dog—here, a jowly, spindle-legged bulldog—steals the show.

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November 1, 2011

Gr 1-3-Hoyt provides an energetic visual accompaniment to Shannon's picture-book debut. Tilly plays inventive, mostly harmless, but relentless tricks on family and friends. She devises short-term pranks like boring a hole in her father's paper cup and giving her flamboyantly dressed music teacher a fireball instead of homemade strawberry candy. (Steam shoots out of the woman's ears.) The child gets sent to the principal's office, where she winks at readers and offers "Yippee! "Hooray! No school!" in thought bubbles when she is sent home. Her parents send her to her room to think about her behavior; "Life is so dreadfully boring without tricks," she concludes. Large, playful fonts accent key words like "mischief," "yuck," "naughty," and "tickled." The inked watercolors clearly announce her verve and cunning, and the dismay of those ridiculed. Tides shift when Tilly makes her brother a toothpaste-filled Oreo and he spits it out on her favorite red shoes and gets a stomachache. As she reflects on the consequences of tricks, especially one directed at her, she concurs with her family, "No more tricks..."; and with a page turn she adds, ."..until tomorrow." This book is useful as a discussion starter, but there is no clear indictment here of tricks at the expense of others. Rather, the contrary.-Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

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