We Are Growing! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! #2)

Amusing, yes. Useful for reading practice, yes, but not necessarily guaranteed to make new readers the 'read-i-est.'

K-Gr 2--An exciting thing is happening. The grass is growing! One blade grows tall, another grows curly, and two grow pointy. As these changes occur, the blades of grass declare what it is that makes them unique--all but one, that is. The last blade of grass has no distinguishing feature of note, and no matter how much the group wrack their brains, they can't figure it out. Then, the great equalizer, the lawn mower, comes along. It takes this event for the blade to discover his special quality. As for the rest, even though they are literally cut down, they are reassured that they will grow again. The empowering narrative can be applied to lessons regarding things like confidence, identity, and growing up. No matter the takeaway, the message is easily consumable, thanks to exaggerated characteristics, cartoonish actions, and a good sense of comedic timing. In this new series, Willems's popular characters share their favorite books, acting as the introductory and closing framework to the story. In this case, they have made an excellent choice. VERDICT Fans of Elephant and Piggie will devour this kooky easy reader, with its similar presentation and storytelling style.--Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Keller (the Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut) teams up with Willems for one of two titles launching the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series; vignettes featuring Willems's two pals bookend this story. "It is as exciting as watching grass grow," Elephant tells Piggie, holding a copy of this book, "because it is watching grass grow!" Indeed, Keller whisks readers to a vast lawn, where blades of grass are growing, though not at the same speed or in the same way. An early bloomer turns boastful ("I know, I know. I made it look easy"), but as the others grow, they realize that they all stand out in various ways, whether they're the tallest, curliest, or dandiest (in the case of a dandelion). But what's that buzzing noise? Keller's googly-eyed grasses brim with personality, her emphatic cartooning creates some wonderful slapstick moments, and raucous sound effects make the action of grass growing sound more like a five-car pileup. The underlying ideas--to stick to your strengths even when life (or a power mower) cuts you down, and that "We are all the something-est!"--are winners, much like the book itself. Ages 6-8. (Sept.)