Tools Rule!

A diligent T-square rallies its fellow tools to get to work building a shed. One helpful illustration shows the tools, strewn about the lawn, but with captionlike arrows to identify what's what. Meshon's lively text is full of tool-centric wordplay; a detailed note describes his process for creating the digitally colored mixed-media illustrations of smiley tools with a can-do attitude.

"Okay, crew!!! Who's ready to build?" A diligent T-square rallies its fellow tools to get to work building a shed so they will all have a place to rest their heads. It turns out that organizing tools is like herding cats: the tools are lying in a mess all over the yard, and they're not supermotivated to move. Once they finally come to order, though, each one does what it does best, and the shed is constructed lickety-split -- just in time for a hard-earned good night's sleep. Meshon's lively text is packed full of tool-centric wordplay ("Let's stick together!" says Tape; "I saw Saw just a minute ago," Work Bench reports), sound effects ("Vrip! Vrip! Vrip! Zip! Zip! Zip!"), and occasional rhyme (plus a minor inconsistency or two: how do they lift the too-heavy-to-move workbench to pour the concrete?). The illustrations, too, have a lot going on. Some are double-page spreads; some are single pages with borders; some bleed off the edges. One helpful spread shows the tools, still strewn about the lawn, but with captionlike arrows to identify what's what; not exactly a sea of calm in this freewheeling story, but useful nonetheless. A detailed note on the copyright page describes Meshon's process for creating his digitally colored mixed-media illustrations showing smiley tools with a can-do attitude. elissa gershowitz