Go! Go! Go! Stop!

January 20, 2014
When Little Green, a smiling circle whose only word is an emphatic “GO,” finds his way to a construction site, things get out of hand in this slightly scattered story. Harper (Henry’s Heart) draws a crew of cheerful construction vehicles, outlined in crayony black line, with photographic dirt and rubble providing a rugged backdrop as they work to build a bridge. Little Green hops up into the bottom of a skinny rectangle held up by a crane (readers will quickly recognize it as a stoplight in the making), where he proceeds to shout “GO! GO! GO!” Although some muddy chaos results, the action and construction efforts aren’t always easy to follow (despite motion lines indicating the trucks’ movements), and a couple plot turns don’t, well, go anywhere. “I’m going to surprise Dump Truck,” says Bulldozer, pushing dirt up a hill, though nothing ever comes of it. Still, Harper (with help from a circle that goes by Little Red) gets across the idea that in a world of go-go-go, some judicious use of “STOP!” can be “just what everyone needed to rest and get organized.” Ages 2–5.

February 1, 2014

PreS-K-Little Green, so named because he is a little green ball, knows one word, and he is excited to share it. "Go!" he yells as he bounces into the town's construction site. Hearing the cries, the bulldozer wakes up first, and soon the cement mixer, the hauler, the tow truck, and all the other heavy equipment are up and working on a new bridge. The more Little Green shouts, the faster everyone moves. But too much "Go, go, go!" is not a good thing. The trucks are now working too fast to do their jobs properly. Just then, in rolls Little Red, who yells "Stop!" The momentary pause allows everyone to reorganize, but since Little Red and Little Green are exact opposites, confusion still reigns. After much trial and error, they find the perfect blend of "Stop" and "Go" to finish the bridge on time. Everyone is happy, and then Little Yellow comes to town. His message is "Slow down," which are the "perfect words for a busy bridge." The town will surely live happily ever after. The artwork is a mixture of collage and digitally rendered cartoons; the colorful equipment is anthropomorphized and drawn in a childlike hand. The plot is rather simple, but young construction enthusiasts will likely take to the bright illustrations.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2014
Little Green and Little Red learn the power of two simple words (Go! and Stop!) as they direct a construction site's workflow in this entertaining tale that will leave readers raring for more. A cheerful green ball discovers he can speak: "Go!" Overjoyed, he rolls into town and shouts his only word from the top of a crane, mobilizing construction vehicles to work. They happily tow, dump, scoop and lift to Little Green's repeated "Go!"s. But when there's no end to the going, mayhem ensues--until Little Red arrives to yell, "Stop!" After some delightful trial and error, the duo of disks finds a groove. A bridge is built, and Little Yellow arrives just in time to join the other two on the new traffic light. Digital illustrations done in a primitive style effectively introduce basic concepts, such as opposites, traffic symbols and word meaning. The adorable characters, construction setting and primary palette will appeal to the younger set, while beginning readers will proudly help with the recognizable words (in whispers and shouts) as directed by Little Green and Red's cues. A wonderful read-aloud and a lighthearted and lively celebration of action words. (Picture book. 2-5)

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