Tickle

December 23, 2013
Patricelli expands her series of board books starring the emotive, diaper-clad baby most recently seen in Fa La La and Huggy Kissy. "I am not ticklish," declares the baby, hands on hips and a single curly hair sprouting from its head. The arrival of a "tickle monster" (the child's father) suggests otherwiseâthe following pages are full of giggles, tickles, and "gootchie gootchie goos." It's ideal for mischievous tickle-reading but, importantly, Patricelli devotes a spread to the baby's shouted "STOP!" after which the parents substitute soft kisses for tickles. Available simultaneously: Toot. Up to age 3. Agent: Rebeccca Sherman, Writers House.

Starred review from July 1, 2014
Patricelli's mischievous, gender-indeterminate cherub claims to be tickle-proof, but readers know the giggles are inevitable.Dad (aka "tickle Monster") finds all the places on this diaper-clad tot's body that are ticklish, such as legs, feet and tummy (everywhere, in fact). Mom, a licking dog, and a playful kitty get into the act too in the one of the book's central double-page spreads. When the youngster has had too much, the little one yells "Stop," and the family kindly obliges and commences kissing, slurping and purring instead. In a final dare to readers and their grown-ups, the child boldly proclaims "I am not ticklish! / Are you?" In the companion title, Toot, the same half-naked toddler celebrates flatulence, declaring in the end that "All toots are funny!" No child is going to argue with that point. Patricelli's trademark style of thick black lines on brushstroke-heavy backgrounds in jewel-tone colors are perfectly suited to her playful and irreverent subject matter. The young protagonist narrates both offerings in simple, direct sentences, and Patricelli fills the rest of the books with captions and sound effects galore (including "fart," natch). Both titles are playful delights.Here's hoping this cheeky tyke never grows up so young readers and their delighted grown-ups can enjoy more adventures (and misadventures, too). (Board book. 6 mos.-3)

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