Straw (Spoon #3)

In this peppy companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, bendable paper Straw, who "has a great thirst for being first," delights in boasting to his friends when he empties his glass well before they can complete their innate tasks. "Done!" he brags, as a funnel, sand timer, and eyedropper, still plugging along, look on chagrined. But Straw discovers a downside to his competitive craze when he dives into a snow cone and eagerly slurps away, soon experiencing a "Brain Freeze!" that "did not feel good--not even one little bit." A curlicue glass straw encourages Straw to slow down and savor, advice that Spoon reinforces: "Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the milk shake!" The late Rosenthal's trademark wordplay is on full display, as is Magoon's flair for giving kitchen utensils personality through a revealing shift of googly eyes, a suspicious lilt of an eyebrow, a telltale curve of a mouth. Relaxing in a frozen drink, Straw delivers the tale's final flip line: when Spoon asks him, "What's shakin'?" he replies, "Just chillin'. And it's strawesome." Ages 3-5. Agent: Amy Rennert, the Amy Rennert Agency. (Feb.)

PreS-Gr 2—A companion book to precursors Spoon and Chopsticks, this third installment about another popular mealtime implement showcases Straw, a stripy fellow with many friends and "...a great thirst for being first." When zipping ahead results in an unanticipated case of brain freeze, Straw starts appreciating the slower, leisurely, and more meaningful hobby of blowing bubbles and stopping to "...smell the milk shake," along with floating off to sleep in a bubbly root beer float. He finally takes the time to savor the juicy red strawberry and swirly whipped cream in his glass. Rosenthal's quirky, offbeat humor is sure to entice readers with its silly and clever references, featuring a straw willing to bend toward a new way of life. Some of the images, however, may be somewhat unclear to youngsters. While goggle-eyed, swirly Krazy Straw is recognizably fun, young audiences may have trouble identifying the other tools used to pick up liquid: an eye dropper, funnel, and others. A turquoise pick in the shape of a palm tree may represent a utensil used to mix adult cocktails, but this will not mean much to children. Overall, kids should readily identify with the appeal of straw-slurping races, and adults will appreciate the abiding message that taking things slow has great merit. VERDICT With such a child-friendly protagonist, children may be more inclined to absorb this lesson. Who wouldn't want to "chill" in a frothy milkshake?—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY