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Tickle, Tickle! Itch, Twitch!

by Julie Olson
32p. 978-0-76145-714-5.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Olson has created a book that just begs to be read aloud. Gus is enjoying a lazy summer day when a little mouse sneaks up behind him and tickles his back with a feather, causing a very big itch that the groundhog needs to scratch. He grabs a stick—and then realizes that it's a snake. The mouse continues to torment him, and each time Gus reaches out for help to scratch his back, he is surprised by another animal. This story is simple and repetitive, allowing for audience participation and many different storytelling techniques such as reader's theater or flannel-board retelling. Young children will enjoy the simple and silly humor and the bright, colorful illustrations that fill the pages. In fact, the art on the dedication page starts telling the story before the actual text begins. An excellent choice for story times.—Lora Van Marel, Orland Park Public Library, IL
Mouse gets his hoped-for reaction after stealthily tickling Gus the groundhog with a feather: "Gotta scratch my BAA-AA-ACK!" Gus grabs a stick, which turns out to be a snake. The scenario repeats twice more with Gus mistaking a porcupine for a bush and an alligator for a log. Finally, Gus's friends scratch his itch. Olson's illustrations effectively expand the humorous text.
Reviewed by Lora Van Marel , Dec 01, 2010

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