7 Days of Awesome

February 8, 2016
Byous (Because I Stubbed My Toe) and Jack (A Pirate's Mother Goose) offer a whirlwind tour of the biblical creation story that's more Dr. Seuss than King James (the book's scripture references actually derive from the New International Version). Opening with a question aimed at readers ("Hey! Where did you come from?/ And what about me?"), Byous follows a portly redheaded man and a pair of children on what seems to be a trip back in time to reveal "how it all began." The children serve as reader surrogates as they accompany the man through each of the seven days, traveling in an array of oddball vehicles that include an egg-shaped helicopter and a flying boat held up by balloons. Byous keeps his exclamatory rhymes light and upbeat ("And look! What a hoot!/ Today, God made fruit!"), and Jack's cartoons have the loose energy of storyboard sketches. While there's a slight disconnect between text and art (the unnamed, Willy Wonkaâesque man is an unusual choice of guide), it's still a playfully engaging introduction to this Bible story. Ages 4â8. Illustrator's agency: Shannon Associates.