Snow Games

June 1, 2010
K-Gr 2-In "Little Wheels", Blue Truck is told by a fire truck and a garbage truck that it is too little to help them. Then Yellow Truck reassuringly asks for help with a tree. The few words on each spread are superimposed on bright cartoon illustrations that supplement the text. While the story has instant appeal because of the characters, readers are likely to feel confused toward the endhow Yellow Truck and Blue Truck actually work together is unclear. In the second title, Snorp, a window washer, instantly grabs readers' attention with his unique monster characteristics: three eyes and three feet and a long tongue that dangles out of his mouth. Given a day off for being an excellent worker, he asks a friend without eyes to teach him to snowboard. Children will enjoy the nonsensical illustrations. In the third title, Rico's friend is a robot. After they go tubing, snowboarding, skiing, and sledding, Robot turns himself into a bobsled and they race down the hill together. "'We don't need all that stuff, ' says Robot. 'Not when we have each other, ' says Rico." This simple story is a good addition to easy-reader collections. All three books have short, simple sentences in large type and bright, full-color art."Lora Van Marel, Orland Park Public Library, IL"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2010
Preschool-G As in Suens Red Light, Green Light (2005), this action-packed story about friends at play is told with minimal text. Part of the new Robot and Rico series, this Stone Arch Reader includes lots of repetition as a boy, Rico, and his friend Robot wait for snow. When it comes, they compete against each other as they race down a hill over and over on snowboards, skis, and inner tubes. Robot uses all kinds of elaborate equipment as he heads down the slopes, but Rico beats him each time. Finally, they race down together, without Robots gear, and win. The digital pictures may sometimes be a bit cluttered for the young audience, but the excitement of outdoor winter play will grab new readers, and so will the close friends rivalry and fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)