Number One Sam

Racecar driver Sam the dog "was number one"--until he's beaten by Maggie the elephant. Pizzoli's use of (digitally created) color lets the young reader know exactly how Sam is feeling at any given time. His talent with color, easy-to-read words, and humor is something to behold. The crocodile from The Watermelon Seed makes a cameo appearance.

Like many young people today, racecar driver Sam the dog is used to winning. "Sam was number one. / He was number one in speed. / He was number one at turns. / And he was number one at finishing races in the number-one spot." Pizzoli's use of digitally created color lets the young reader know exactly how Sam is feeling at any given time. Sam is complacent in bright primary colors after winning a race, waving to the crowd, the only one covered in confetti, unaware of the sadness on the faces of his friends left in his dust. When he is beaten by Maggie the elephant, the background fades to a grayish aqua as Maggie is hoisted to the shoulders of her friends and Sam is left with a look of consternation on his face. In bed that night, his white wide-eyed insomnia is obvious: he cannot sleep for worrying over how he lost the race and if he is still number one. In the end, he is -- but not for the reason he had planned. Pizzoli's (The Watermelon Seed) talent with color, easy-to-read words, and humor is something to behold. It's not easy to write a book for new readers because everything from the font, to the word choice and repetition, to the plot and page turns has to work within the construct of readability. This one does it all. And Pizzoli fans will be gratified that, with the crocodile from The Watermelon Seed making an appearance here, this may be turning into a bit of a series for new readers. robin l. smith