FICTION

You Broke It!

by Liana Finck (text) & illus. by Liana Finck
Penguin/Rise X. Jan. 2024. 48p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593660409.
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PreS-K–In a compilation of humorous set pieces that turn adult instruction on its head, New Yorker cartoonist Finck hilariously pokes fun at how parents might sound to children in a playful picture book that is a fun read across age ranges. This comical tale demonstrates how kids might perceive out-of-touch and sometimes hypocritical authority figures. Common nags and absurdist reminders from parental figures are juxtaposed with the artist’s trademark sketches that deliver the humor: a big fish tells its kid to “sit still.” An adult worm tells a little worm to “stop squirming.” An adult tornado tells the child tornado, “You’re making a mess.”
VERDICT Kids are seen and validated for being at the receiving end of sometimes ridiculous demands from their adults; adults are comically reminded to let kids be kids. An additional purchase, but funny.
Reviewed by Jane Huh , Feb 23, 2024

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