Must. Push. Buttons!

PreS-K—This book provides a look at the inner workings of a toddler's mind. "You really want to know what he's thinking?… Really? Okay, brace yourself." The boy's off-the-wall thoughts are translated into a frenzied reality as he explores, from trying on his mama's high-heeled shoes to picking up the family pet by its head. His fascination with every button in his house occupies his thoughts. When easily distracted, his attention immediately flits back to his family in dramatic fashion. "'Wait, where's Daddy? Where's the cat? Where' s Mommy? MOMMY LEFT FOREVER!'" The high-energy incredulity of the boy's realizations, such as when he discovers his toes or notices he urinated on himself, dominates each scene until he finally succumbs to sleep. Colors bleed outside of coarse charcoal lines to convey a childlike exuberance. Mixed-media illustrations, from art digitally created by acrylic paints, watercolors, and oil pastels, maintain the loud energy found within the child's home. Even brightly patterned wallpaper adds bold color to the decor. In a manic glimpse into the absence of impulse control, this child's zany exuberance knows no bounds.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC