The Tweedles Go Electric

Gr 1–3—This tale set in 1903 is filled with playful language, quirky humor, and contemporary allusions. The Tweedle family does not own a car. And so, they are ridiculed and seen as odd because of their "behind the times" ways. Then one day, Mr. Tweedle decides that family will go modern and buy an electric car. All along, Mama has secretly always wanted a car, and she dances with joy. Eight-year-old Frankie is ecstatic; he loves wheels of any kind. Franny, 12, on the other hand, prefers to keep her nose in a book. The truth is, she is fearful of speed and nervous about getting lost. When they ask the car salesman why there is only one electric car to choose from, he says, "People …want noise. They want smoke….They want a car to sound and smell like a car." Papa's choice ("'We're electric. We're green! We're smart!'") is all well and good, but once out on the road, "the traffic is helter-skelter and every whichaway. There are no signs or lines." He decides that he needs time to get used to owning a car and goes back to riding his bike to work. Shortly after, neighbors come asking for help, and Franny comes to the rescue and drives them to the doctor. She finds the adventure exhilarating and realizes that she actually likes driving. Mama eventually learns to drive, but Papa still rides his bike to work. The graphite-on-paper and mixed-media-collage illustrations are dynamic and engaging and provide a fun look at life at the turn of the 20th century. A charming addition to most collections.—H. Islam, Brooklyn Public Library