School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A happy youngster and his father cook a magical pancake breakfast. Smiles fade when their eyes turn to the not-so-fun to-do list on the fridge. However, with Dad, even washing dishes can be fun. While Dad washes, the boy blows bubbles with an octopus and submarine, obviously imagining an underwater adventure. Tasks get more creative as "make the beds" turns into "sail a pirate ship" and "water the garden" becomes "explore the jungle." Finally, the exhausted duo rest together beneath a tree, content with a day well spent. The minimal text is limited to the original and revised to-do lists, but no other words are needed. The cartoon-style acrylic and pencil illustrations perfectly capture the boy's flights of fancy and his dad's willingness to play along. Adults could learn a thing or two from this father about making mundane tasks more enjoyable. VERDICT A great choice for one-on-one sharing.-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
After a gleeful pancake breakfast, a boy and his father gaze despondently at a to-do list tacked to the refrigerator. The boy keeps his father company as he does dishes and builds a bookcase, but things kick into high gear when the boy augments the items on the list: making the beds turns into "sail[ing] a pirate ship" (the billowing sheets evoke sails) and instead of watering the garden, they "explore the jungle." The book's only text is the words on the list, but Zuppardi's (Jack's Worry) joyful, mixed-media art speaks volumes about how ordinary activities-yes, even chores-can be made special with a little imagination. Ages 4-8. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
