Say Zoop!

PreS-Gr 2—Tullet's latest interactive offering encourages readers to experiment with sound. The author/illustrator tells children to say "oh!" each time they see a blue dot. The size of the dots changes: a large one prompts kids to let out a loud "oh!"; a tiny one, a soft "oh." Tullet spreads the dots far apart on the page to slow things down and groups them together to speed things up. When a red dot enters the mix ("say 'ah!' "), the words and illustrations become wonderfully wacky. What would it sound like if the blue dot had a conversation with the red dot? Or if they were tickled? Blending elegance and whimsy, Tullet artfully places simple shapes against a white background, letting the images turn delightfully chaotic at times. An argument between the two circles has a frantic, Jackson Pollock—esque feel, while a scene in which the narrator asks readers to pretend that the dots are jumping on a trampoline evokes the joyful energy of Keith Haring's graffiti. Visible smears on the spots add a painterly charm. The enthusiastic text matches the lively visuals.