FICTION

Still Stuck

by Shinsuke YOSHITAKE
tr. from Japanese. illus. by Shinsuke Yoshitake. 32p. Abrams. Sept. 2017. Tr $12.95. ISBN 9781419726996.
COPY ISBN
PreS-K—"I can do it all by myself;" a phrase that every toddler/preschooler utters two to three times per day. Yoshitake perfectly tells the tale of a young child's pursuit for independence as he struggles to get his shirt off. Once our protagonist begins to undress, he quickly gets stuck in the shirt and wonders—what will happen if he is stuck forever? He ponders if "there were others still stuck, too? I bet we would have fun together." Just as he decides that being stuck forever wouldn't be that bad, his mother rescues him and whisks him away to the bath. The problem seems to be solved until he tries to get into his pajamas and he is "stuck again." Cartoon illustrations complement the humorous story line.
VERDICT A tale that will be relatable to young children and will make parents laugh as well. Recommended for general purchase for most picture book collections.
Reviewed by Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY
A boy gets stuck taking off his shirt and imagines what it would be like to be stuck forever. The combination of independence, perseverance, and stubbornness will be familiar to any parent of toddlers, and maybe even to the toddlers themselves. The illustrations' strong lines embrace the absurdity of the boy's predicament, and his yellow shirt stands out against the muted color palette.
 , Jun 01, 2018

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