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(3)
PS
A little boy's nap is interrupted as he counts the little monsters that begin appearing in his room, from one to ten. Graphically bold illustrations in cheerful candy colors capture all the mayhem--and gross humor, with snot, ooze, and farts involved. Everything ends well, with the boy in control of the situation...or is he? Benign, silly fun for preschoolers.
32 pp.
| Holt
| July, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-8813-7$14.99
(3)
PS
A knock at the door reveals a mysterious black box. While the offstage narrator speculates about what could be inside, each spread shows the scary possibilities. Eventually, the reader lifts a flap to reveal the answer: two smaller boxes, leading to more guesses. The lively direct-address text should keep children engaged, and graphically bold illustrations in black, orange, and white keep pages turning.
Reviewer: Lolly Robinson
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2013
40 pp.
| Holt
| September, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-8814-4$12.99
(2)
K-3
Schlepping gifts, untangling lights, and shoveling snow dampen the main character's Christmas spirit. "Life would be easier if I had elves," he muses, and the next day, Santa's little helpers arrive. Just a few speech bubbles make up the text, while enormously amusing cartoon panel illustrations in crisp Christmas colors show the little buggers making general nuisances of themselves.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2010
96 pp.
| Holt
| April, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-9055-0$19.99
(2)
K-3
Gonyea's square format, generous use of space, and breezy, informal style work well with the topic. We learn about warm and cool colors, the emotional impact of colors, and the color wheel. Individual chapters and a text that covers only one simple idea per spread allow concepts to sink in. The casual tone makes new terminology and ideas seem less daunting.
Reviewer: Lolly Robinson
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2010
156 pp.
| Holt
| August, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-7576-2$19.95
(4)
4-6
As in A Book about Design, Gonyea teaches about color and design. With text on the left and an example on the right, it often takes several spreads to get one point across. The comic voice might not work for everyone, nor will the complex concepts toward book's end. The best audience will be readers with some visual sophistication.
140 pp.
| Holt
| June, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-8050-7575-5$18.95
(4)
4-6
Gonyea makes some important points about design and the relative natures of shape, size, and color on a page. On each spread, a few words on the left are illustrated on the right, but his leisurely pace and stand-up comedian tone may not appeal to all. Unfortunately, the cover design is Gonyea's example of "complicated doesn't make it good."