Gotta Go!

PreS-Gr 2–Viva’s latest is as wry, cool, and spot-on as ever. Owen’s mom checks in with him before they set out on a car ride to a visit with Grampa—“Do you have to pee before we go?” The distracted boy is too busy plinking, clinking, doinking on his device to even seriously consider it. As they cross the bridge, he’s seized by a sudden urge to pee. With lots of patience, his mother suggests different ways to help him hold it: “Just try to think of something totally different. How about a favorite toy?” but all he can think of is running faucets and waterfalls. He makes it just in time. At the park, Grampa gives him more advice, including several silly dances that make light of the situation and just might do the trick in a dire situation. Viva’s signature design-heavy art and fun humor elevate this perennial topic to a title both kids and their grown-ups will chuckle along to. This charming early reader graphic novel done in mostly block illustrations in black, gold, and white will help diffuse a stressful situation. The oversize heads and silhouette figures give this an almost animated feel, and the sweet dialogue distinguished by different color bubbles will help emerging readers decode meaning to the text. The limited and repeated vocabulary makes this a perfect suggestion for read-alouds or one-on-one reading.