Straw

PreS-Gr 2–A companion book to precursors Spoon and Chopsticks, this third installment about another popular mealtime implement showcases Straw, a stripy fellow with many friends and “…a great thirst for being first.” When zipping ahead results in an unanticipated case of brain freeze, Straw starts appreciating the slower, leisurely, and more meaningful hobby of blowing bubbles and stopping to “…smell the milk shake,” along with floating off to sleep in a bubbly root beer float. He finally takes the time to savor the juicy red strawberry and swirly whipped cream in his glass. Rosenthal’s quirky, offbeat humor is sure to entice readers with its silly and clever references, featuring a straw willing to bend toward a new way of life. Some of the images, however, may be somewhat unclear to youngsters. While goggle-eyed, swirly Krazy Straw is recognizably fun, young audiences may have trouble identifying the other tools used to pick up liquid: an eye dropper, funnel, and others. A turquoise pick in the shape of a palm tree may represent a utensil used to mix adult cocktails, but this will not mean much to children. Overall, kids should readily identify with the appeal of straw-slurping races, and adults will appreciate the abiding message that taking things slow has great merit.