Keep Rolling!

March 1, 2017
Litwin's Nut family is back (The Nuts, 2015), this time lamenting their diminutive size.Poor Hazel and Wally. They are tired of being tiny. But how can they get bigger quickly? By rolling in the mud, of course! They launch themselves down a mucky hill, and with each revolution a new layer of mud sticks to them, creating a larger and larger shell. A song accompanies the prescribed action: "KEEP ROLLING. / KEEP ROLLING. / KEEP ROLLING." (It's easy to imagine listeners getting into the action here.) They roll until they are the size of cats. Magoon's digital muck glops on thick, with strategically placed twigs and leaves to represent whiskers and eyes. But, "Oh, No!" A pack of dogs comes over the hill. Wally and Hazel had better..."KEEP ROLLING. / KEEP ROLLING. / KEEP ROLLING." When the two nuts are the size of dogs, they fear the (white) dogcatcher. Then they are the size of elephants, but a (brown-skinned) zookeeper joins the chase. Luckily, in a solution similar to a certain cat with colored shoes, water saves the day. The two nuts roll home. With repetitive refrains and plenty of mud, it's hard to go wrong--but the message is a bit murky. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Hazel and Wally Nut are back again, and this time their small size leads them on a big adventure. After rolling in mud and realizing that the more they roll, "the bigger they [grow]," the Nuts keep rolling until they're the size of cats, dogs, and elephants. But each time they get bigger, a new challenge is thrown their way. All they know to do in these predicaments is to "keep rolling, keep rolling, keep rolling." Then rain comes and washes the mud and goo away until Hazel and Wally are small again. Even though they're left little and alone, the Nuts are able to get home because they know to "keep rolling" until they are back with their happy family. Litwin once again displays a sense of eternal optimism with this latest installment. The story has fun rhymes, pictures, and a song that reminds readers of all ages that when times get tough, the best thing to do is to keep going (or keep rolling). Children will love seeing Hazel and Wally's mud transformations and the silly escapades they get into. Magoon's bright and lively illustrations enhance the upbeat feel of the story. VERDICT Purchase for collections where Litwin's other titles are popular.-Paige Garrison, The Davis Academy, Sandy Springs, GA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.