Crash, Splash, or Moo!

July 9, 2018
In his characteristic cartoon-style illustrations, Shea (the Ballet Cat series) creates an energetic game show in which readers become players. Choosing from one of the three words in the title, they must guess what will happen when a foolhardy “Action Clam” and a phlegmatic cow perform daredevil stunts. One frenzied Mr. McMonkey hosts (Shea wisely asks audience members to “raise their hands” rather than shout out their guesses), awarding bananas for each right answer. A big part of the joke is that the game involves almost no suspense: Action Clam takes on anything that ends in “crash” or “splash,” while the cow, set up to perform amazing feats, stays put and says “moo.” But with the help of a jet pack, the two performers join forces for a final stunt that achieves a sort of literary hat trick. As characters, typography, and jokes bounce around the pages—bright, silly, and loud—this one proves itself banana-worthy. Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.  

July 15, 2018
The spirit of Evel Knievel is alive and well in this retro game show, restructured for the storytime set.A blue monkey, bedecked in a purple suit clearly filched from Willy Wonka's tailor, invites readers to play a guessing game. Will the daredevils featured in this book crash, splash, or moo in a given situation? The brave souls in question consist of Action Clam ("America's favorite splashin', crashin' stunt clam!") and an ordinary cow. As for the stunts, they include being shot from a cannon into a glass of water, leaping over 10 school buses on a motorcycle, and one that involves piñatas, a rocket pack, and an enormous tub of butterscotch pudding. It's clearly written with storytimes in mind, and child readers are encouraged to raise their hands as they vote on what they believe the contestants will do in any given situation. Kids will eat up the humor even as they bask in the knowledge that they're smarter than their host, Mr. McMonkey. Shea rocks a euphoric chaos, deploying both copious negative space and a pop-art sensibility. And thanks to the visible palette of yellow, red, and blue, this is one read-aloud that will be easy to see across a crowded room. All the interaction of an Hervé Tullet book, with a flying clam, a hyperactive monkey, and a cow all thrown in for good measure. (Picture book. 4-7)

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September 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Set up like a game show, Shea's latest humorous picture book asks participants to raise their hands and vote (CRASH!, SPLASH!, or MOO! are the options) for the outcome of stunts done by an Action Clam and Cow. Narration is done by an energetic host named Mr. McMonkey, and the prizes include bananas and a top secret end-of-the-book prize. The digital illustrations are as silly, unpredictable, and action-packed as the story line. It is impossible not to have fun while reading or listening to this zany story. VERDICT The elements of interactivity make this a great storytime read-aloud. This story is also full of classroom extension possibilities, including activities involving new stunts and outcomes. Kids will line up for a chance to play.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, Alta.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2018
Preschool-G In this spoof of televised reality competitions, host Mr. McMonkey invites readers to win prizes (delicious bananas) by guessing whether two contenders, Action Clam and Cow, will "crash, splash, or moo" when performing "awesome stunts." Action Clam races a car into blocks (he crashes) and shoots out of a cannon into a "really faraway glass of water" (he splashes), while Cow skateboards through a loop-the-loop and motorcycles over buses (he moos for each). Both vie for the "big one," which involves a rocket pack, a pi�ata, and a vat of butterscotch pudding. The flashy cover, which prominently features the odd but enthusiastic characters, is designed to draw readers in, while Mr. McMonkey's enticing mentions of a "secret prize" will hook them. The hyperbolic text consists of Mr. McMonkey's short, play-by-play descriptions, and the action-filled illustrations, which pop on the yellowish-gold pages, make this a strong candidate for a read-aloud. Readers will be encouraged to channel their inner Carson Daly, and eager audiences will want to invent awesome competitions of their own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)