The Good for Nothing Button

The third installment of the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series (The Cookie Fiasco; We Are Growing!) is all about...nothing. Stubborn Yellow Bird is determined to convince happy-go-lucky Blue Bird and Red Bird that a particular red button does nothing. "SEE? NOTHING!" Yellow Bird exclaims after a fruitless press. Blue Bird and Red Bird each give it a try, and, as before, nothing seemingly happens...although, Blue Bird is surprised by how easy the button is to push and Red Bird, not surprised at all, becomes disappointed. Of course, surprise and disappointment are not nothing--and Blue Bird and Red Bird say so. This contradiction infuriates Yellow Bird, and the high-strung avian creature begins to unravel (almost Pigeon-style). In desperation, Yellow Bird bursts into a flurry of caricatured emotions (calm, happy, scared, etc.) to demonstrate exactly what the button cannot make someone do, and in the process provides comic entertainment for everyone. Drawn in Harper's typical cartoony style, the highly repetitive word bank, color-coded word balloons, and range of thoughtfully used panel shapes and sizes (from circle frames to double-page spreads) make for an accessible and engaging early reader. Reminiscent of Jon Agee's Nothing (rev. 9/07) and perfect for young fans of off-center logic. patrick gall