Line and Scribble

April 1, 2021
Can opposites coexist? This picture book presents its refreshing take. Line is straight, Scribble is not. Line makes straight drops of rain; Scribble makes lightning and whirlwinds. Line has elegantly straight fur, Scribble is fluffy. They spar (in a friendly way) back and forth, each presenting its own take on things. Line "tightens the electrical wires," and then Scribble "bursts into fireworks." Line "draws with a ruler" while Scribble "zigzags" and "dreams." And eventually, in this inventive story, readers begin to realize how Line and Scribble complement, enrich, and ultimately define each other. Author Vogrig's taut, spare narrative leaves ample space for readers to see their own personalities in the story while Valentinis' illustrations of simple black lines accented with details of red on rich white paper do a superb job of presenting just enough and not too much, encouraging the engagement of readers' imaginations. The clean sans-serif typeface is also red, visually tying the book's design together. As the tension of the story escalates, the font size increases--a highly effective (and fun to read aloud) design aspect. Beyond enjoying the straightforward accomplishments of Line and the spontaneous creativity of Scribble, readers may arrive at a deeper understanding of their own unique qualities and how difference contributes to the richness and variety of friendships and diversity. Lovely to look at; profound to ponder. (Picture book. 3-7)

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May 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 A line and a scribble face off in this creative battle of drawing styles, � la Harold and the Purple Crayon and Linus the Little Yellow Pencil (2019), by Scott Magoon. Simple illustrations--straight or curved black lines with red accents--are set against white pages, helping readers focus on the easy-to-follow story line. After a few introductory pages that show Line creating a straight road and train tracks, and Scribble looping around as a cloud and the meandering trails of butterflies, the story's tone takes a competitive turn. "Hey, Scribble! Look at how straight my fur is!" says Line of its cat. "Hey, Line! Look at how fluffy mine is!" comes Scribble's reply after amassing some swirls. The rivalry quickly escalates to form a massive storm that finally gives way to clear skies and compromise. Higher-order vocabulary (elegantly, tightrope, cyclone) and references to familiar images make this a book early childhood teachers will welcome into their classroom. Excellent for lessons in creativity and encouraging children's awareness of the world around them.

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