Don't Splash the Sasquatch!

March 1, 2016
Sasquatch is a weird and wacky critter with a penchant for water; he wants to sit beside the pool, but he doesn't like to get wet, because it makes his fur "all squizzlefied," a situation predictably set up for disaster. Lifeguard Blobule gives him permission to take a seat by the pool, but one by one, other large and fanciful critters conspire to break the rule and splash the Sasquatch. Miss Elephant Shark, Mr. Octo-Rhino, Miss Goat-Whale, and Miss Loch-Ness-Monster-Space-Alien all jump in, splashing as much as should be expected from their bulk. Prima donna Sasquatch gets madder and madder, until, as predicted, his hair gets...squizzlefied! Once they realize what they have done, the friends make amends by spinning, shimmying, and styling the offended creature, and they all end up throwing a glorious pool party in which everyone gets wet. The energy and wackiness of the characters are effectively conveyed by Staake's colorful, computer-generated cutout illustrations, which give the impression of carefully controlled chaos as the figures romp and splash through the pages. There is a hint of a well-used formula here, and the book's similarity to the previous Don't Squish the Sasquatch (2012) may leave some readers feeling short-changed. Formula aside, there are many belly laughs to be had from the sheer "just-because" wackiness of this creation. (Picture book. 2-5)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Senor Sasquatch wants to spend the day by the pool but doesn't want to get splashed. Water makes his fur "all squizzilefied." Miss Elephant Shark, Mr. Octo-Rhino, Miss Goat-Whale, and Miss Loch-Ness-Monster-Space-Alien ask to jump in the pool. Lifeguard Blobule allows them in but requests that they please not splash the Sasquatch. Of course, each one does. And Sasquatch gets squizzilefied. To help him recover, the friends spin, shimmy, and style him. He is so excited about his great new look that he has a splashy pool party to celebrate. The colorful, computer-generated cutout illustrations are fittingly playful and bright. Characters have wonderfully exaggerated facial expressions.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 7, 2012
As the title suggests, unadulterated silliness is the raison d’etre for this collaboration between Staake (Look! A Book!) and TV writer and producer Redeker. (As the title also suggests: this sasquatch is gonna get squished.) The story begins with the tall, long-limbed Señor Sasquatch—sharply dressed in a black suit and fedora—climbing onto a bus piloted by the aptly named Mr. Blobule. “I hope it doesn’t get too crowded,” he tells the driver. “I do not like to get squished!” Sure enough, the bus fills up with one hybrid creature after another, each stranger than the last, until the bus explodes with a giant “ka-blooey” on a four-page foldout spread. Working in his characteristically exaggerated style, Staake fills the pages with details of urban life, while focusing on the yellow bus and its unusual passengers. Redeker’s prose consists almost entirely of dialogue (“Of course you may ride my bus, Miss Loch-Ness-Monster-Space-Alien!”), as well as the repeated titular refrain, emphasizing that this is a book to be read aloud. Loudly. Ages 1–5. Illustrator’s agent: Gillian MacKenzie, the Gillian MacKenzie Agency.

July 1, 2012
Grades K-2 This one doesn't make a lick of senseand it's all the better for it. Senor Sasquatch is the first monster aboard Mr. Blobule's bus. I hope it doesn't get too crowded, Sasquatch says. I do not like to get squished! That's rather unfortunate, considering the five enormous monsters that get on at the next five stops, including such gargantuan guests as Miss Elephant Shark, Mr. Goat-Whale, and Miss Loch-Ness-Monster-Space-Alien. Thus, Redeker's read-aloud pattern is set: a monster gets on; the bus driver shouts, DON'T SQUISH THE SASQUATCH!!!; rinse; and repeat. Staake's bright digital illustrations keep everything slanted and off-kilter, though even the absurd art can't prepare readers for the head-scratching finale. Sasquatch gets squished, the bus explodes (in a four-page foldout), and then each monster must smooch Sasquatch back to life. Well, whatever; it's all goofy good fun. Until the group hug that ends the celebrationwhat did we say about being squished?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)