Boom Snot Twitty This Way That Way

Starred review from April 1, 2015
A bear, a bird, and a snail differ on plans for an outing. "Boom, Snot, and Twitty hit the trail early to find the perfect spot to spend the day," opens the text, as a hilarious illustration shows the three inadvertently setting out in three different directions. As before (Boom, Snot, Twitty, 2014), staying together is a given, but this time, two have concrete goals. Boom, the bear, wants to go to the beach; as he imagines it, the illustrations shift from figures and shadows in ample white space to a full-bleed, double-page spread of Boom happily at the seaside, digging in sand. Twitty, a bird, longs for the mountains; her similarly formatted vision shows her standing atop a peak, gazing at others through binoculars. Snot, a snail, wants a group picnic. She asks the others which activities at their dream locations they care about most. The dispute continues until Boom and Twitty notice that Snot has silently departed. As they follow a trail of blueberries she's left them, readers see that Snot, ever wise, has found a route and destination that braids everyone's desires together. Liwska's soft palette, crosshatched lines, and fine touch with posture and emotion render her scenes and characters both gentle and unique-and what's better than a bird in hiking boots? Quietly alluring and visually peaceful. (Picture book. 3-6)

May 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-Boom the bear cub, Twitty the robin; and Snot the snail are back for another adventure as they decide on the perfect spot to spend the day. Boom thinks the perfect spot is "this way" to the beach, where he can jump and splash, while Twitty wants to go "that way" to the mountains to hike and look. Snot brought the snack but keeps quiet as the friends disagree over which way to go. They soon discover that Snot is gone, and a trail of blueberries leads Boom and Twitty to a place they can all enjoy. Liwska's fine pencil illustrations in a subdued color palette are soft, charming, and expressive. VERDICT Readers will enjoy this journey to find the perfect spot.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Preschool-K Friends don't always agree, a truth told in words and pictures in this second Boom Snot Twitty book. While Boom, a bear, and bird Twitty both seek a perfect spot, they point in opposite directions, and one dons flippers and goggles, while the other puts on hiking boots and binoculars. Meanwhile, Snot the snail tries to play mediator. The simple vocabulary, often repeated (though with differing intent), increases a young reader's engagement with the story. The illustrations, centering primarily on the emotional stakes, keep the focus where it should beon two stubborn, sometimes exasperated friends. There is a feeling of softness throughout, with a fuzziness to Boom's fur and Twitty's feathers, and the prevalence of natural colorslight browns, greens, and blueseases the tension between the two main characters. Little background is needed until the final resolution, which is near a stream with a mountain view (thanks to Snot, who understands compromiseand the importance of snacks). Pair with Chris Raschka's slightly more sophisticated Give and Take (2014) for another book about compromise.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)