Puddle

Reviewed by: Carla McAllister - New Gloucester Public Library, New Gloucester, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 31, 2017

Review

A little boy is bored because it is raining and he cannot go outside. So, his Mom decides to draw, though the little boy says "No. I don't want to! I'll never draw!" Soon enough, the little boy is drawn in in more ways than one. He becomes interested in what his Mom is drawing and she actually draws him into the pictures. Mom keeps adding things; the dog, an umbrella, a puddle. Their imaginations run wild and they have to keep reminding themselves that 'it is just a picture." They finally decide that they can go outside after all: they just need their raincoats, rain boots and umbrellas. The ultimate goal, of course, is to find a puddle in which to jump. The text alternates from red to black, with Mom's dialogue in red and the little boy's in black. The simple, colorful, childlike illustrations are perfection, employing lots of bright yellow, reds and blues. Yum's sixth picture book is spot on. Consider it for picture book collections, public and private.

Overall Book Score: very good