Boom Snot Twitty

March 17, 2014
This is a much subtler and gentler offering than Cronin’s (Click, Clack, Moo) previous picture books, making the illustrator behind The Quiet Book a fitting collaborator. The title names the story’s three characters: Boom is a restless, impulse-driven bear; Twitty, a robin, is a cautious homebody; and Snot the snail exists somewhere between them, a patient observer of her world who also grabs hold of adventure when it presents itself. As the three “ for the day to begin,” they quietly disagree about what to do. Twitty is content to crochet, Boom says, “Let’s go somewhere,” and a sudden storm makes the decision for them. Cronin deploys just enough text to hang a story on (“Boom ran. Yuck. Twitty hid. Yick. Snot floated back to her spot. WHEE!”) while Liwska fills in the emotional blanks, her now-familiar fuzzy-soft artwork communicating the threesome’s excitement, alarm, malaise, and contentment through their body language and features. The overall effect is that of three dissimilar yet compatible friends who are so comfortable in each other’s company that they barely need to communicate. Ages 3–5. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

Starred review from March 15, 2014
Three friends with different philosophies spend a companionable day together, crocheting and weathering storms. Boom is a bear, Twitty a robin and Snot a snail. Boom and Snot lie on their stomachs near a tree, reading, while Twitty crochets with pink yarn. Presently, the decisions begin. Twitty suggests staying where they are; Boom suggests going somewhere; Snot suggests waiting. So they each do: Twitty stays put (up the tree, where she'd already gone), Boom goes somewhere (up the tree to join her), and Snot waits on the ground, gathering yarn. When storm clouds arrive, Boom--standing on the treetop--leans into the wind and yells "Jump!"; Twitty shelters her yarn and cries "Hold on!"; Snot closes her eyes and murmurs, "Wind!" Lightning and a downpour make Boom yell "Run!" and Twitty cry "Hide!," while Snot smiles and sighs, "Rain!" Here's the subtle magnificence: Nary a speck of alienation from one another mars their vastly different approaches, nor does the text portray Snot's easily found pleasure as more enlightened. The pale, softly colored backgrounds are bare, highlighting the characters, tree, yarn and dynamic weather. Liwska's crosshatchings, downy edges and bright animal eyes are entrancing and tranquil. The crochet project progresses finely, growing (it's briefly a tree cozy), unraveling (Boom jumps off the tree wearing it as a cape) and ending up someplace perfect. Serene, quietly joyous and utterly life-affirming. (Picture book. 2-5)

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March 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Liwska's illustrations are immediately enticing. Fine pencil work depicts characters and scenery that have an appealing fuzzy and fluffy quality, while the computer-added colors are mellow and nicely varied. Cronin introduces three friends: a bear, a robin, and a snail. Boom, the bear, is the active one, always the first to move, climb, jump. Twitty, the robin, likes to relax in her nest and crochet. Snot, a pigtailed snail, is an enlightened creature, willing to wait and adapt to circumstances as necessary. When a thunderstorm threatens, Boom jumps from the treetop and runs away while Twitty hides miserably on a branch, using her nest as a raincoat. Snot, however, welcomes both rain and wind, making a leaf raft to ride on, basking in the ensuing hot sun as the others recuperate from their struggles with the weather. When night approaches, it is Snot who asks what to do while her two friends come up with excellent answers. Though the underlying message seems a bit unclear, the illustrations and characters will attract a fair number of fans.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2014
Preschool-K True natures are revealed when three dissimilar friends spend a tumultuous summer day together. Boom, a bear cub, likes to move. Twitty, a robin, prefers to stay close to home and create with yarn, while Snot, a small snail, enjoys anticipating what's going to happen. Cloudy skies and a strong wind suddenly shatter their peaceful morning. As Boom leaps out of a tree to escape the wind, Twitty secures her nest filled with yarn and buttons and Snot surfs off on a leaf with a wide-eyed WHEE! Boom and Twitty attempt to run or hide from the elements, but tiny, quiet Snot embraces each change and thoroughly enjoys the day. Endearing detailed illustrations show individual stitches in Twitty's yarn creations, Boom's fuzzy coat, Snot's red-bowed antennae and freckles, as well as a few ever-present books. This charming episode affirms that friends with different personalities can enjoy being together while still doing their own things.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
A bear named Boom, a snail named Snot, and a bird named Twitty approach the day with different ideas of fun: one prefers to look for adventure, one to stay put, and the third to wait and see. Told with few words and expressive, gentle art, this is a quiet story about the satisfaction of friendships even when personalities differ.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)