The Three Mouths of Little Tom Drum

PreS-Gr 3—Little Tom Drum loves nothing more than strawberry pie, and he always begs for more. One fateful evening, his mother teases him, asking him if he has "three mouths." Unfortunately for all, the child responds in the affirmative. That evening, as he is sneaking more pie, he suddenly has three mouths, an extra one on each side of his face. The whole family is sent into a tailspin, and they agree he must quit school and be taught at home. As time passes, it becomes clear that Tom has a knack for inventing gadgets, and he becomes renowned all over the world. One day, a "Wishing Machine" is delivered, and it eventually returns him to his former, one-mouthed self. The story is beautifully illustrated in pen and ink with pastel. The art pairs nicely with the fairy tale-like mood of the story. Unfortunately, the meandering plot is confusing. Tom's playful inventions steal the narrative and detract from his three-mouths dilemma. By the time he is restored to normal, readers might well have forgotten that he even had this physical anomaly. This title will have limited appeal and is a supplemental purchase best suited to libraries with large collections.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI