Knot Cannot

January 27, 2020
Knot, a googly-eyed, looped piece of bright orange rope “aches to be like Snake,” a bright green reptile who can slither, hiss, and shed her skin to look “brand-new.” But when Snake is threatened by a sharp-beaked bird, Knot realizes he knows something Snake doesn’t: how to tie her into a big, wide knot so the predator can’t swallow her. The day is saved (gratitude is expressed as a forked-tongue lick), and Snake is eagerly schooled on how to turn herself into other knots, including a timber hitch and a stevedore. The text is peppered with word-play that morphs from a stern “Can Knot do this? Knot cannot” to “He’s a frayed knot.” Goofy, diagrammatic cartooning plays along, with lots of comically emphatic hand-drawn annotations and commentary (“TOO WIDE HA HA!” reads a key note that leads up to the rescue). In the talented, sublimely silly hands of Stone (Tallulah Plays the Tuba) and Lowery (the Kid Spy series), the question “What do I have to offer the world?” seems far less knotty. 4–8. Author’s agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. Illustrator’s agent: Susan McCabe, Lilla Rogers Studios.

February 1, 2020
Knot is a short length of rope who wishes he were more like Snake, but...he's knot. Thus begins a zany exploration of all the things Snake can do (slither, hiss, swallow) that Knot cannot. Lowery's signature madcap cartoons and hand lettering depict a smug snake and a surprisingly expressive knot with bug eyes and emotive stripes who produces long-suffering sighs in speech bubbles. Meanwhile, Stone's text is both funny and punny: "Snake can even shed her skin. Snake looks brand-new. Can Knot look brand-new? No, he's a frayed knot." Additionally, rhyme-y knot/not combinations and jokes fill the pages. "Can Knot do this? Knot can...not. What can Knot do? Not a lot." When danger approaches, however, Knot's signature ability ("Knot can...knot!") finally comes in handy to save his friend. Yes, it's essentially a one-trick pony, but Stone and Lowery's collaboration is a fun vehicle for important learning, ably illustrating the futility of comparing yourself to others while celebrating each individual's strengths. As a bonus, it also sneakily includes actual information about several different types of knots that Knot can make. Clever wordplay and an unlikely (and adorable) protagonist make this book knot to be missed. (Picture book. 3-7)

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April 10, 2020

PreS-Gr 1-In this tongue-twisting tale, a knot of rope and a snake discover what they are capable of. Knot admires all the things Snake can do, such as swim and slither. But when Snake is suddenly faced with a situation it cannot handle, Knot steps in to help. Lowery's use of bold text, bright colors, and cartoon-style illustrations complement the whimsical wordplay. With its repetition, consonance, and homophones, this tale is a fun way for students to build word comprehension. VERDICT This humorous read-aloud will help young readers untangle some tricky vocabulary words and teach them valuable lessons about finding confidence in one's abilities.-Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2020
Grades 1-3 In a deliciously relentless barrage of punnery and other wordplay, Stone compares a short bit of knotted rope to a snake. Whereas Snake can slither, hiss, and swallow supper whole, Knot cannot. Likewise, Snake can shed her skin for a fresh new look. Can Knot? No, he's a frayed knot. On it goes, with Knot looking increasingly depressed. Then a predatory bird lands, and it looks like curtains for Snake. Is there anything Knot can do? Well, yes: Knot can knot . . . a lot! And so he proves?first by tying Snake into a granny knot too big for the frustrated bird to swallow and then by shaping her into an overhand knot, a stevedore knot, a timber hitch, and more. Along with depicting six knots accurately enough to get young rope wranglers started in his simply drawn cartoon illustrations, Lowery uses wordless glances and an artfully nuanced line or two to convey Knot's emotional ups and downs clearly and vividly. Will readers come away thinking that Snake, with her physical advantages, is better off? Knot likely!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)