Fix This Mess!

Jake turns Robug ("Remote Operating Basic Utility Gizmo") on and commands it to "fix this mess." Robug energetically fires into action, but things don't quite turn out right. Funny details in Arnold's characteristic cartoon-style illustrations build momentum from page to page, and the vocabulary is simple enough to allow the newest readers to enjoy it all on their own.

With a picture book trim size, this story designed to meet the needs of new readers features one sentence per page in a large font and with plenty of repetition. The plot starts on the title page with a picture of a stained armchair piled with clothes, sporting equipment, spilled food, and a cat. Turn the page, and the copyright page shows a delivery van speeding away from a mysterious package. Combined with the dynamic illustrations in Arnold's characteristic cartoon style, even the first neutral line, "Robug came in a box," delivers both anticipation and foreboding. Jake turns Robug on and commands it to "fix this mess." The "Remote Operating Basic Utility Gizmo" energetically fires into action, but the well-equipped little weevil-shaped machine only moves the mess from place to place. After a few attempts, Jake tries a new approach: "Get rid of this mess!" That doesn't quite turn out right, either, and before long the tables are turned, with Robug giving directives and Jake holding the broom. Funny details, such as where the cat lands, build momentum from page to page, and the vocabulary is simple enough to allow the newest readers to enjoy it all on their own. julie roach