FICTION

From Ed’s to Ned’s

Random/Knopf. Jun. 2020. 48p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780525648062.
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PreS-Gr 2–Children really know how to see the world in this triumphant look at ingenious modes of travel: “Climb to Cal’s, whirl to Will’s, trampoline from Ted’s to Jill’s.” “Dig to Duke’s” requires passing a castle, and “Cannon-blast from Beth’s to Luke’s” features a real cannon and a safe landing in a haystack. This is a fever dream, with minute sketched travelers in all shapes and sizes, all colors and builds, though clearly it’s the pack of adults summoning these merry wayfarers home for bed. A tightrope across cacti? A rocket to Lou’s? It’s all par for the course in wide spreads that Cummins populates with fliers, tumblers, and tightrope walkers. Children will delight in pointing out the hazards.
VERDICT There is no safe or sound reasoning behind any of the journeys herein, but the joyful abandon is something any child will embrace. Like Gorey’s Gashlycrumb Tinies, this is chant-worthy from a first reading, and the nonsense approach ensures that nobody dies.

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