Review: Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

CREEPY PAIR OF UNDERWEAR!

by Aaron Reynolds

Illustrated by Peter Brown

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Picture Book

ages 4 to 8

Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He’s not afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows in the dark. A ghoulish, greenish glow. If Jasper didn’t know any better he’d say his undies were a little, well, creepy. Jasper’s not scared obviously, he’s just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!

MY TIDBITS

Glow in the dark underwear, ghostly thrills and an ending as sweet and quirky as can be--this is a picture book to make the youngest spook fans giggle for glee.

Jasper Rabbit is not thrilled about his mother taking him underwear shopping until he spots the best underwear in the world--creepy, glow in the dark green ones. Thank goodness he's a big bunny now and can handle such things. That is, until he gets home at night and realizes just how spooky this pair of underwear can be.

The front cover of this book already demands attention. Dark, green, ghoulish and all centered around a pair of underwear. Jasper, the bunny, is the perfect character to take front stage in this creepy tale. Bunnies, by nature, are cute and sweet, and Jasper offers just the right amount of distance from real life to keep the youngest listeners from getting too uncomfortable. This tale walks the beginning border of a chilling thriller, letting the youngest fear-seekers grab a first taste without suffering too many goosebumps. It's cute, it's quirky and it's just a lot of fun.

The illustrations keep a dark touch, allowing the atmosphere to seep through on every page. The emotions are easy to read on Jasper's (and the underwear's) expressions, making this a picture book kids can skim through all on their own too, time and again. The only thing missing was a page or two. . .or even the cover. . .with a real life, glow-in-the-dark effect. But the illustrations do a terrific job in getting the feeling across sound and clear.

Although this takes Jasper through quite a trip to get rid of some extremely persistent underwear, the last pages do a great job of bringing the spookiness back down and swinging it over into a somewhat silly, but also, in its own way, heart-warming end. Now, if only we all could own such a creepy pair of underwear.



You might also be interested in Aaron Reynold's companion book:

And here they are. . .

The author. . .

Aaron Reynolds isn't scared of carrots or underwear, but he's terrified of black olives. He's the author of many books for kids, including Superhero School, chicks and salsa and the Joey fly, Private Eye graphic novel series. His books have been featured on the Henson Productions national television show, Between the Lions, and nominated for many awards including the 2010 Edgar Allen Poe Mystery Award and the Monarch Kid's Choice Award. He lives in Chicago with his wife, two kids and four neurotic cats. You can visit Aaron at www.aaron-reynolds.com.

The Illustrator. . .

Peter Brown is the author of Children Make Terrible Pets and the critically acclaimed artist of Chowder and flight of the Dodo. He is a graduate of the Art center College of Design in Pasedena, California. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit Peter at www.peterbrownstudio.com. 

Happy Book Bday, Sea Monkey & Bob by Aaron Reynolds!

SEA MONKEY & BOB

by Aaron Reynolds

Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Simon & Schuster

ages 4 to 8

Two delightfully anxious friends learn that they can overcome anything—even gravity—in this humorous and heartwarming picture book from bestselling author Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

Bob the puffer fish and his best buddy Sea Monkey may be little but they’ve got one ocean-sized problem. Sea Monkey’s terrified he’ll sink straight to the bottom of the ocean. After all, he’s heavy, and all heavy things sink, right? Bob on the other hand is worried that his puffed up frame will float up above the surface. He’s light, and all light things float! How will they stay together when the forces of gravity are literally trying to pull them apart? By holding hands, of course! Sea Monkey and Bob learn that sometimes the only way to overcome your fears is to just keep holding on…

MY TIDBITS

Giggles galore and a slide into science too! Sea Monkey and Bob the puffer fish aren't exactly the brightest in the ocean, but with their simple and silly banter, they bring across the concept of floating and sinking smoother than a passing wave, and that all with a lovely wind of friendship thrown in.

This isn't a picture book heavy on text but lets the simple back and forth between Sea Monkey and Bob take over. And the text is simple. Although recommended for ages 4 to 8, younger listeners will have no trouble falling into the small adventure and will probably laugh sometimes more than the slightly older crowd.

Text and illustration combine to bring the story to life. The colors are vibrant and the characters playful. The dialogue spurts around the scenes, letting word mix with color to lead the tale along. To ensure a seamless flow in the funny exchange between the sea creatures (especially when reading aloud), the dialogue tags are dropped and substituted with color changes--yellow for Bob and white for Sea Monkey. For parents/grandparents/teachers: it's easy to follow and make those fun voice changes.

The concept of floating and sinking comes across crystal clear and works well for a first dab into science. The silliness of the characters keeps it worlds away from dry. Instead, the intelligence clashes against their goofy thoughts and conclusions to create a humor kids are sure to enjoy.

All about the author. . .

Aaron Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author and has written many highly acclaimed books for kids, including Here Comes Destructosaurus!, Carnivores, and the Caldecott Honor–winning book Creepy Carrots! He regularly makes time to visit schools where his hilarious hands-on presentations keep kids spellbound. Aaron lives in Chicago with his wife, two kids, four cats, and anywhere between zero and ten goldfish, depending on the day. Visit Aaron at Aaron-Reynolds.com.

All about the Illustrator. . .

Debbie Ridpath Ohi is the author of Where Are My Books?. Her illustrations also appear in Sea Monkey and Bob, written by Aaron Reynolds; I’m Bored (New York Times Notable Book) and Naked!, written by Michael Ian Black; as well as ten Judy Blume chapter books and middle grade titles. For more info, visit DebbieOhi.com or @InkyElbows on Twitter.