Publisher's Weekly Review
The young narrator of Hodgkinson's (The Big Monster Snorey Book) ode to reading is eager to dive into his book, but finding the perfect spot to enjoy it is no easy task. As he moves from one unusual location to the next, punchy rhymes and mixed-media collages reflect his pickiness and dissatisfaction. "Somewhere comfy. But not buzz-buzzy," he insists, as a bee loops its way toward a pot of flowers on a table beside his floral-patterned armchair. After a page turn, he wishes for a place "not all growly, itchy, fuzzy" while perched on a chair monster, complete with fangs and a long, reptilian tail. A menagerie of animals accumulates as the boy rejects additional reading spots: a lily pad is too soggy, a star too far away, a tree branch "way too high for me!" Eventually, the boy realizes that where you read isn't nearly as important as whom you read with. It's a message that should suit avid readers just fine, and they'll be tickled by the playful rhymes, oddball settings, and increasingly chaotic scenes of this literary quest. Ages 3-6. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
A boy's quest to find the perfect place to read takes him on a fanciful journey. The boy, rendered in black and white, chooses a book from a rainbow-hued shelf and sets out to find a good place to sit and read. His first pick, a bright floral armchair, is too buzzy, thanks to a nearby bee. A toothy monster chair is too growly, itchy, fuzzy, and a trash-strewn corner is too smelly, stinky, grimy. While the rhyming lines don't always scan, Hodgkinson's inventive, well-designed images, composed of whimsical figures on richly textured backgrounds full of warm, eye-catching hues, nicely uphold the narrative. As the boy tries out each location, his chair complements elements of the setting, and characters from each page reappear as the story progresses. After trying out 10 different chairs, the boy considers the friends he has collected, and chooses a whole new approach: a book is best anywhere . . . a book is best when you share. A natural choice for group storytime.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2017 Booklist