10 August 2013 THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA! by Mo Willems, Balzer and Bray, April 2013, 48p., ISBN: 978-0-06-220309-6

"'That is

REALLY,

REALLY,

REALLY,

REALLY

NOT

a good idea!'"

I've just spent an hour at YouTube and Wikipedia, traveling back to my early childhood, by reading about the evolution of the opening and closing theme music for Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies.  This YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jTHNBKjMBU, with a million-plus listens is a pretty good summation of what I've been exploring.

This musical trip back to the depths of my little kidhood was triggered by my reading (and then re-reading several times) THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA! which is an animated silent movie in a book by Mo Williams.  The cinematic look to the cover and everything therein is incredibly stunning -- the production of the finished book is as good as it gets in 2013 -- and this turn-the-tables tale of a clever fox who is out-clevered by a lady goose in a head scarf is, itself, so darn clever. 

"'Would you care to look at my soup?  A key ingredient is missing.'"

At each dramatic juncture, there is a chorus of bright yellow chicks who keep building the tension, and guiding us to the punch line, with their REALLY-REALLY- REAL-IES.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA! is a picture book that will not only result in audience hysterics and loud audience participation (in that chorus) upon reading and re-reading, it is also the kind of book that could well cause some kids to jump over the edge into the world of reading-hood, as the result of desiring to perform it for themselves.

Having, in the past, had the pleasure of watching Mo Willems perform his stories for a store full of little kids sitting on the carpet, I am all all psyched to take this one on the road and do my own thing with it.

So, just know that your goose is going to be cooked if you miss out on this one.

(And make sure that when kids actually get their hands on this book that you have them watch out for The Pigeon, who makes a cameo appearance here.)

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_school_lit/

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