The Table Sets Itself

PreS-Gr 1—Clanton transforms a common household task into an adventure in this quirky story. Young Izzy is proud when Mom allows her to take on the responsibility of setting the dinner table. Each night, she instructs her anthropomorphic friends, Dish, Fork, Knife, Spoon, Cup, and Napkin, to take their appropriate spots, but soon the chore becomes tedious. Izzy's pals think that switching places at the table is "the best idea since macaroni and cheese," but the imaginative girl's parents don't agree. Unhappy with returning to their accustomed arrangement, Dish runs away with Spoon. Izzy and the others worry about the missing pair until they receive a series of letters from around the world. When the travelers finally return, they bring with them two new friends, a pair of chopsticks. The author sprinkles the text with silly jokes to make young readers giggle ("Did you hear that Pot boiled over? Yeah! He was really steamed.") and gives a sly nod to Mother Goose's beloved nursery rhyme. The pencil and watercolor illustrations in pastel shades contain comic-book elements and add more humor to the story. Izzy is a bright, likable character with her bobbed hair and rosy cheeks. Pair this book with Simon James's hilarious Baby Brains and RoboMom (Candlewick, 2008) to help youngsters learn about helping around the house.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA