Blob

PreS-Gr 2--Never has an existential crisis had so much charm and appeal. Blob is struggling to find their identity. The one thing that Blob knows for certain is that they are most certainly not called Bob, despite the insistence of the narrator. With an introduction as a "creature of indeterminate kind," Blob has the blueprint to be anything or everything. Is Blob a panda, a rock, a cotton-candy tester, a haystack, or a painter of haystacks? With each of Blob's evolutions in shape and vocation, Blob gets closer to just being…Blob! This feel-good foray into journey of self-acceptance uses clever devices to keep the interest and humor feeling fresh. The story unfolds through Blob's debate with the narrator on what Blob is, or is not, giving it an interactive feel. The illustrations are simple and bright. Young fans of Ben Clanton and Jonathan Stutzman will appreciate this title. VERDICT A perfectly paced, relatable comedy sure to tickle the preschool set with its exuberant illustrations and message of self-actualization. A recommended purchase for most collections.--Sarah Simpson, Westerville P.L., OH

"A creature of indeterminate kind" ponders life and existence. Looking a lot like a softly rounded coconut-covered marshmallow, Blob is a lump. Or, well, a blob, even though the busybody narrator keeps mistakenly referring to Blob as "Bob." Blob is trying to figure out what it wants to be. The narrator helpfully interjects: "As a blob, Bob can be any animal you want." Blob is surprised. "I can?!" Blob morphs into a panda, a mouse, a giraffe, and more, all at the suggestion of the narrator. But Blob wants to choose its own destiny. Maybe a rock, or a star, or…a rock star! The possibilities are endless. In fact, that's the problem. There are too many choices. Blob frets: "What if I pick the wrong thing? What if I don't like it?" Blob suddenly feels a burst of confidence and sternly addresses the narrator once again on using the correct name and figures out exactly what to be. The back-and-forth banter includes some funny quips, and Blob's quest for identity will resonate with readers who hear the tiresome, unanswerable question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Blob, who carries a paintbrush throughout (first used to sneak an L into the title) realizes that everyone can paint their own destiny. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An "ambiguous being" with a focused future makes for a fine role model. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.