Parfait, Not Parfait!

April 15, 2022
A breezy invitation to find rhymes in a set of visual tableaux. As cues to what's afoot, Rothman supplies leading one- or two-word comments and an occasional internal label--all of which are fun to read aloud in conjunction with Monsen's illuminating illustrations. A portrait of a profoundly wrinkled dog, for instance, properly labeled "Shar-Pei," is followed by "Not Shar-Pei" opposite a mugging Sharpie, then by a "Toupee," which ends up on the dog's head as a "Shar-Pei toupee." Further sequences involve a bit of literal "Horseplay" and a yummy "gourmet buffet" complete with "sorbet" on the way to a "Birthday partay!" The art is likewise minimalist, but sharper viewers may also pick out a blue jay in one scene, a can of hair spray in another, and other unlabeled items; a list of these tucked in at the end offers some help. Nor are the author and illustrator above a certain amount of fudging: Watch out for that pile of "Shar-Pei poo-pay," and good luck figuring out that the pins stuck on a tiny, unmarked globe are supposed to locate Santa Fe and Norway. Whether by accident or design, at least there's no pig Latin. Of the three human figures pictured, one is brown-skinned and the others are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A fun, free-wheeling word partay, if not quite carried all the way. (Picture book. 6-9)

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May 23, 2022
The neat parfait presented in this picture book has everything: the whipped cream, the colorful filling, the cherry on top, and the fancy glass. But that’s not enough for Rothman (Attack of the Underwear Dragon) and Monsen (Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme), who see this dessert as a launchpad for some supremely silly riffs about both the “what does not belong” grouping exercises so familiar to kids, and idiosyncrasies of spelling and pronunciation. The book begins with an opening image of the colorful treat, labeled simply “parfait.” Turning the pages, readers see that both a mallard duck and Abraham Lincoln fall into the category of “not parfait.” Soon, the book takes a turn, musing on non-parfait things that share an ending “ay” sound: a shar-pei, a toupee, and a gourmet buffet replete with flambé—“Hooray!” But even as tidy logic gives way to elaboration (a “not parfait” involves the duck sporting Lincoln’s signature beard and stovepipe hat), the book’s craftsmanship is never in doubt. The creators’ comic timing is worthy of a chef’s kiss, with digitally enhanced acrylic paintings that embrace the tomfoolery without overplaying it, and which offer additional “ay”-sounding visual jokes for close readers. Ages 3–6. Author’s agent: Erica Silverman, Stimola Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.