Fix It, Sam

February 1, 2007
PreS-Gr 1-Petey thinks his older brother, Sam, can fix anything, especially the messes he makes. But when Sam can't fix the younger boy's sagging chair tent, it's Petey who is the solution-literally. The text is comprised of short and simple phrases, but it's really the illustrations that tell the story. They show Sam, complete with tool belt, as a helpful older brother clearly aware that his sibling is taking advantage of his fix-it reputation. Ramá's use of water-soluble crayon with watercolors creates colorful pictures that manage to be detailed, emotive, and childlike all at the same time. The artist captures the active nature of a toddler and the knowing looks of an older brother. Her addition of two stuffed animals that closely follow the action is a nice touch for alert readers. This story works as a read-aloud and as a beginning reader."Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2007
Little Petey's brother, Sam, can fix anything ("Uh-oh. Sam, help?"). But Petey finds he can fix things, too, when he learns that he is just the right size to prop up his tent with his head. Spare, simple text and expressive visuals portray familiar toddler activities, challenges, and sibling interactions with warmth and humor. Colorful cartoonlike artwork, created from pencil, crayon, and watercolors, includes a wordless spread showing the siblings trying different tent props. Little sibs will easily grasp the story, Petey's adoration of Sam, and the idea of problem solving as they spot familiar objects in the pictures. An affectionate companion to " Super Sam!" (2004). (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)