|
 Review by
Louella Moreland
When I first encountered this book, I must admit it seemed a bit strange,
but as I turned each page, I found myself drawn more and more into the story
until I had to read it from cover to cover a second time, much slower and
more appreciatively. Part picture book, part graphic novel for the young, "Pssst!"
by Adam Rex has so much visual appeal readers will want to experience it
again and again! Text and illustrations intertwine seamlessly to make an
engaging tale of imagination and humor.
A young schoolgirl takes the subway to the zoo one day. While visiting
the animals, she is greeted by, "Pssst!" The animals each request her to
bring them an item. From penguins that request paint (after all, their
black-and-white world looks a little boring) to the sloths that would like
bicycle helmets (what if they fell on their heads?), the girl is bombarded
with wishes from each exhibit she visits. Always she is greeted with, "Pssst!"
as though she shares a secret with each animal. Luckily she finds a sale at
a store across the street!
Younger readers may have difficulty understanding why the animals ask for
certain items, though most situations can be problem-solved by using the
illustrations. Animals that may not be commonly recognized are identified in
the text.
The illustrations are the real story, with text taking a back seat to add
humor and depth. Mr. Rex combines cartoon sketches for backgrounds, drawn in
one or two colors with a full-color lifelike girl and animals, and adds
three-dimensional photographic collages of the items each animal has
requested. Some text is presented in typical book form and font; other text
appears in speech balloons with various types of whimsical fonts.
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Even the endpapers that depict a map of the zoo are interesting to
explore, complete with icons. The key to the map may be something
young people will recognize from beginning map skills at school, but
it is doubtful the icons used here will be anything school-like! (I
especially like the smiley face with bug eyes and stuck-out tongue
that shows where "Food" can be located.)
For adults and older readers, one can contemplate the difference
between the empty speech bubbles (could they be "normal world"
speech of animals and humans?) and the funky font speech bubbles
that contain text (would they be thoughts in the girl's
imagination?). Throughout the book some animals appear to be in
"soap bubbles" instead of cages. What might that signify?
This book also contains an imaginative "teaser" like I enjoyed so
much in the book "Tuesday" by David Wiesner. Just before the real
END of the story, the girl visits the circus a week later. As an
elephant strolls by her seat in the big top, she is once again
greeted with, "Pssst!"
Rex's book is whimsical, unusual and just plain fun! Why not come
into the library, check it out and visit the zoo? You may also want
to check out his other book, "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich." You
can locate us (and the books) at 725 Pekin St.
[Text from file received from
Louella Moreland,
Lincoln Public Library District] |
