Quiet Please, Owen McPhee!

May 14, 2018
Ludwig and Barton, the team behind The Invisible Boy, tackle the challenge of the overly talkative child. Over the course of a few days, redheaded Owen’s chatter stream (conveyed through word balloons) wrecks science class, spoils a movie’s ending, and disrupts story time (“What did he see, Mrs. Fitzwater? Was there a monster? What if it’s not a monster but a g-g-ghost?!”). There isn’t a mean or gossipy bone in Owen’s body; he’s genuinely excited and curious and capable of apologizing—but his peers think he’s thoughtless and impulsive, culminating in his being ostracized from the rest of his class. Before things get too grim, however, along comes the perfect deus ex machina: a case of laryngitis. Forced to write—and listen—Owen becomes more mindful and a more effective collaborator, too. He even helps a team win the class prize for “Strongest Bridge.” Audiences may not agree with an implied suggestion that talkative children observe an occasional “Laryngitis Day” (the final image suggests this is Owen’s new self-disciplining tactic), but they should find the understated, reportorial-style narration and muted, cheery watercolors both sympathetic (to all sides) and most of all, hopeful. Ages 5–8. Illustrator’s agent: Chris Tugeau, CATugeau Agency.

May 15, 2018
A boy who talks too much gets some lessons on the importance of listening from his classmates...and laryngitis. The book sets the tone from the start, dialogue balloons with fading text filling the opening spread, Owen's poor dog on her back with paws over her ears. But that's just the start. Subsequent spreads demonstrate how Owen's loquaciousness negatively affects his classmates on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday, though, brings a bout of laryngitis that stops Owen in his tracks. Writing everything down takes so much time! Retreating from the playground, where he just can't keep up, he finds Isabella working on a bridge project he ruined on Monday. After his heartfelt written apology, she invites him to help her, and he becomes the fourth member of a successful team. The ending reflects real life in that Owen still has bouts of talkativeness, though now he does also listen for others' input...and he schedules regular laryngitis days on his calendar. Barton's pencil-and-digital illustrations portray a very diverse classroom headed by a black male teacher; red-headed Owen himself presents white, and Isabella has pale skin and black hair. Faces are incredibly expressive; readers will have no doubt how Owen's classmates feel about his interruptions during storytime or his plot-spoiling at lunch. Discussion questions that will require some deep thinking round out the book. Similarly talkative youngsters struggling with social interactions may want to schedule their own laryngitis days. (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Just as in Ludwig's and Barton's The Invisible Boy, this picture book successfully portrays a delicate school situation with sensitivity. Owen McPhee loves to talk, and although he doesn't mean to, he often interrupts his teacher, spoils surprises, and frustrates his classmates. Perhaps most importantly, his talking "get[s] in the way of listening." When Owen wakes up on Thursday with laryngitis (which produces no other symptoms other than an inability to speak), he goes to school and quickly finds out how challenging it is to be voiceless. However, his temporary silence quickly accentuates his abilities at being a positive teammate and allows him to understand the importance of listening. Busy ink and digitally rendered illustrations effectively convey Owen's chatter and the action of the story. Detail-rich, skillful single and full-page spreads depict the action. The back matter contains a thought-provoking discussion guide. VERDICT An accessible addition to libraries that may function as a springboard for a discussion on positive communication and the importance of listening.-Brianne Colombo, Fairfield Free Public Library, NJ

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