The Scrambled States of America Talent Show

Starred review from June 2, 2008
Keller is once again guilty of transporting laughter across state lines in this follow-up to her hit The Scrambled States of America
. Who knew that the 50 states were such a bunch of hams? She shows readers the backstage histrionics: California demands to talk to his agent when Georgia gets a bad case of stage fright, and Hawaii doesn't get the answer she seeks when she asks Kansas: “Does this grass skirt make my butte
look big?” But the show must go on—and it does with every possible kind of act, from Minnesota the Magician (who seems to saw South Dakota in half) to the State Impersonators (Tennessee and Wyoming form Oklahoma and then ask, “What's up with this handle, anyway? I mean, what am I—a state or a frying pan
?”). Some fans of the first book may argue that this one isn't as geographically clever—and they could be right. But the snappy dialogue flows effortlessly, the personalities are as winning as ever, and the pictures' energy never flags. It's e pluribus boffo! Ages 4–9.

August 1, 2008
K-Gr 4-New York wakes up in the middle of the night and shouts, "Hey, everyonelet's have a talent show!" The other states jump right in to prepare and perform their acts. Illustrations and layouts are similar to those in "The Scrambled States of America" Holt, 1998), with cartoon characters shaped like state maps dancing and prancing on stick legs and wisecracking all over the pages. There's plenty to giggle at: Texas trying to skate under Missouri's Gateway Arch, Pennsylvania playing a "peppy tune" on the Liberty Bell, and California checking in with his agent. Because there are 50 characters, the action can become confusing. It's easy enough to figure out that the "New States on the Block" boy band is made up of states that begin with the word "new," but not as clear why North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, West Virginia, and Louisiana are members of the Montanettes, a singing group with Vegas-style feathers. There are references to the previous book, so it's helpful to remember that Mississippi and Nevada have fallen in love. Where it is popular, this one will also have fans. It is clever, lightly educational, and hip, but with a slightly weaker premise, it is just a bit more]scrambled."Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2008
The states on the map are snoozing one night until New York wakes up the others with a bright idea: a talent show! Throughout the day, the little state-shaped figures bustle about, organizing themselves into group and individual acts, crew, and director. There are glitches, of course, but these troupers carry on, from rehearsals right through to the postproduction party and chatter. The characters (resembling thin, state-shaped puzzle pieces with large faces and wiry limbs) generate their own kind of excitement in the colorful, dynamic illustrations, created with acrylic painting and digital collage. Even the endpapers bustle with excitement and wit: lists of the states with their statehood dates and their postal code abbreviationsare featured, whilein the margins, tiny characters make comments and crack jokes that are right on target for the books audience. This amusing geography-inspired picture book is a fine companion to The Scrambled States of America (1998).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)