Zip It!

January 1, 2012
Dad charges off to run errands with his fly unzipped, oblivious to the efforts of his son to clue him in. Grownups, at least, will definitely find the joke stretched too thin here, as young Joe somehow finds himself somehow unable to get his father's attention on the drive, at the laundry and post office, during a layover for a nap with a spot of fishing and then on to some shopping. Adding to Lindaman's frequent double-entendres in her mostly dialogue narrative--"Let's zip through this list, okay?"--Carlson supplies a confused-looking housefly (a fly, get it?) along for the ride, plenty of peeks at Dad's colorful jockey shorts showing through and a succession of amused (but silent, the crumbs) adult observers. The art, as overworked as the premise, is a busy muddle of sudden changes in angle or scene separated by too-thin borders, dialogue balloons that elbow their way into adjacent panels and angular vignettes set off by zipper lines. Dad does get the message in the end, though it has to be delivered through a grocery store's public-address system. A visual jumble, but a probable source of high-fives and hilarity for children old enough to be embarrassed by their parents. (Picture book. 5-8)

(COPYRIGHT (2012) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

March 1, 2012

K-Gr 2-In this funny tale, Joe and his father run errands around town. The only problem is that Dad has forgotten a crucial part of getting dressed: to zip his fly. Joe tries numerous times to tell the garrulous man about the faux pas, but he can't get a word in edgewise. Embarrassing moments ensue, including an encounter with Joe's teacher, Mrs. Allen. Finally, the youngster comes up with a clever way to get his father's attention in the grocery store. Children will enjoy the various manifestations of the word "zip," e.g., "Let's zip through this list, okay?" as well as the comic-book-style layout and large color illustrations. This picture book would make a great lesson starter on polite ways to broach awkward subjects.-Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2012
Grades K-2 At last, a picture book about that funniest of faux paswalking around with your zipper undone. Young Joe notices that his dad's flag is flying first thing in the morning, but as they head out on errands, Dad keeps interrupting his son just as Joe tries to tell him about the heart-patterned underwear showing from his trousers. Everywhere they go, more and more people see this horrifying display, including Joe's teacher. Lindaman crams the dialogue with references to this revealing situation: Let's zip out of here. A pop fly to left field. Joe can keep it zipped. Button up, Joe. Make it snappy! Carlson matches the author blow-by-blow with her colored-pencil illustrations: cartoon panels bordered by zippers, a license plate labeled XYZPDQ, such props as flyswatters, etc. The inclusion of a little fly buzzing about seems one element too many, and the ending, featuring a grocery-store intercom, isn't as natural as it might be. Nevertheless, laughing readers will probably be gasping for air. This book knows its audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)