Rot, the Cutest in the World!

Rot is not the cutest in the world. He's a "mutant potato" with stick legs, four straggling hairs, and a substantial unibrow. What he does have is confidence, and when he sees a sign advertising the Cutest in the World Contest, he's in. Never mind that his competitors are a baby bunny "with fluffy floppy ears," a kitten, and a pink jellyfish. They're all adorable, but they treat Rot with disdain ("I think I'm going to be sick!"). In a brief sequence, Rot wavers: perhaps he should look more like the others? He tries on a pair of fluffy ears, but they're "kind of itchy!" No, he'll be himself. He earns the other animals' respect and triumphs in a most unexpected way. It's a challenge to draw a character who's both repellent and still appealing to readers, but Clanton (Boo Who?) does not pull his punches. He treats familiar themes--being and believing in oneself--with a light hand. And he explores, with sensitivity, the visceral reaction to real ugliness and suggests a path through it to the other side. Ages 4-8. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Dec.)

PreS-Gr 1--Rot is a mutant potato with sparse hair, unibrow, nubby teeth, and asymmetrical eyes. And, like most mutant potatoes, he likes eating, games, and contests of all sorts. So when Rot sees a sign for the Cutest in the World contest, he immediately enters. His opponents are an adorable baby bunny, a cuddly kitten, and a jolly, pink jellyfish. They are less than supportive of Rot's chances of winning. In fact, they are downright unpleasant. After deciding not to eat them because that would be mean and probably cause indigestion, Rot attempts to enhance his cuteness by adopting bunny ears, whiskers, and becoming pink and jolly. None of this makes Rot feel any cuter so he just decides to be himself. In a twist, Rot wins the contest, which is judged by what appear to be a mutant banana, apple, and pear. Clanton's use of speech and thought bubbles, dynamic text placement, varying font styles and sizes, ample white space, and great facial expression all make for a fun (and fun to read) tale of self-acceptance. VERDICT An entertaining and irreverent take on self-confidence; a strong choice for large collections.--Catherine Callegari, Reston Regional Library, VA