Review by Booklist Review
Kids can practice counting forward and backward in this quirky picture book about a truly outrageous puddle. It all starts with rain lots of rain and a shaggy dog who gets too close to the edge of the puddle until Glub . . . / Glub . . . / Glub . . . / he sinks out of sight. The same fate befalls 2 cats, 3 squirrels, 4 pigeons, 5 children, and so on. When we get to 10 police officers, the madness stops, as 11 tanker trucks and 12 hoses suck up the water (Schlurp!) and dry out the puddle. Understandably, what's uncovered is topsy-turvy chaos, with our little dog sitting atop a taxi. From here, kids can count backward from 12, as order is restored at least temporarily. In addition to the counting aspect, there's a ton for kids to see in Zemke's whimsical cityscapes, and plenty of opportunity to chime in for the Glubs and Schlurps throughout. Step into your rain boots and hoist the umbrella for rainy, zany read-aloud fun.--Kelley, Ann Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A commonplace event takes an outrageous turn as a rain puddle quickly grows into a large body of water, disrupting life in a city. Parker counts up to 12 and back again, using repetition to build excitement as people, animals, taxicabs, and more fall into the puddle: "Two stray cats track curious reflections a little too close to the edge of the deep, deep puddle and... Glub... Glub... Glub... they sink out of sight." Zemke's whimsically chaotic spreads show archetypal city dwellers going about their business underwater: robbers seize at floating dollars, vendors reach for their soggy wares, a tourist takes an underwater cellphone picture. Readers will embrace the chance to laugh at the adult world turned upside down in this hearty readaloud. Ages 3-up. Illustrator's agent: Ronnie Ann Herman, the Herman Agency. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-This circular counting story about a bottomless puddle brings city life delightfully to the fore. In a plot reminiscent of Judy Sierra's Preschool to the Rescue! (Harcourt, 2001), it rains all night until a "deep, deep puddle.stretches across the city street." One dog gets too close to its edge and "Glub.Glub. Glub...he sinks out of sight." Next come two cats, three squirrels, four pigeons, five children, six tourists, etc., until ten police officers cordon off the area and bring in eleven tanker trucks and twelve workers to drain the puddle. Everyone moves on, in descending numerical order, until the dog shakes his wet fur to create a new puddle. The counting aspect is secondary to the story and would be effective only for small groups or one-on-one readings. The refrain works well and encourages participation, although it does not appear uniformly after each number set, diluting its effectiveness. Nevertheless, the depiction of the lively city, the descriptive language ("nine robbers, coats crammed with stolen treasures, prowl."), and the busy, visually stimulating pictures all create an appealing package. Zemke makes good use of page turns and the height of the book while representing the depth of the puddle containing its many victims. The gouache illustrations, which use a variety of points of view and are full of interesting details, angular people, and vibrant motion, are a delight to pore over.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Creatures and objects in increasing number vanish into a rain puddle starting with one shaggy dog, two stray cats, and three thirsty squirrels. This visual and onomatopoeic feast of a counting book is offbeat and hilarious: after twelve workers drain the puddle (Schlurp! Schlurp! Schlurp!), a pile of sopping taxis, tourists, etc. is revealed; they're back to business as usual in reverse order. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Looking for a counting book that makes a splash? When an impossibly deep puddle forms in the middle of a busy city street, a shaggy dog falls in and sinks to its mysterious depths. Then two stray cats wander too close and fall in too. Three squirrels, four pigeons and five children follow suit, and then six tourists, seven taxis, eight street vendors and nine robbers! Luckily, 10 police officers appear, bringing 11 tanker trucks and 12 workers with hoses that suck up all the water. The count then reverses, with 12 workers packing up the 11 trucks, 10 police officers arresting the robbers and so forth. Finally, the shaggy dog emerges, shaking the water off his coat and starting a brand new puddle in the process. This otherwise ordinary counting story distinguishes itself with a bit of plot and a rich, precise vocabulary, making it appropriate for a wide range of ages. Soft watercolor illustrations with lots of blues and yellows depict the chaos in exacting detail. Children will enjoy poring over these illustrations, especially the one in which all of the people, animals and objects sink into the puddle. Many beguiling details, such as a cat pinching its nose and a robber grabbing for dollar bills, are there for the spotting. Kids will be happy to dive right in, whether it's shared in a lap or as part of a group. (Picture book. 3-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
