Literary Critters

Gr 1--2--Who doesn't love a good pun? Shakespeare did, so perhaps he'd like William Shakesbear, too. It is William's winter of discontent for he is full of "unspiration." He goes for a walk where he meets Mole Dahl, who has some Wonka Choc--say, this book is sending readers off to other books and other writers, as Corrigan (Pugtato, etc.) finds wordplay, swordplay, punnery, and quipping all to her liking. William does not wish to hibernate, but seeks someone with "storytelling sense and sensibility," and now things are becoming a bit strained for the picture book audience, till they come across a rabbit named Peter and his relative Benjamin, who inspire Beatrix Trotter no end. Yak Kerouac, Edgar Talon Crow, C.S. Shrewis, and more are all part of this exhausting pointless parade, and despite the many clever touches, this picture book never really finds its feet. VERDICT Despite characteristically whimsical and delicious watercolors of the very English pastoral countryside, leave this book in Mr. MacGregor's garden. Children will shift in their seats, waiting for the story to start, but it never does.--Kimberly Olson Fakih

An attack of writer's block sends upset ursine William Shakesbear out to seek inspiration from some strangely familiar friends. Except for hirsute Yak Kerouac ("No time to talk, Will! I'm on my way to EVERYWHERE!"), every animal tries to help--from Mole Dahl, who suggests that "a little magic can take you a long way," to C.S. Shrewish, who finds inspiration even in a box of Turkish delight. Beatrix Trotter snorts that there's "something delicious about writing the first words of a story." Edgar Talon Crow advises him to seek it "in the shadows." "Hold fast to your dreams, Will!" purrs Langston Mews, sprawled out beside a (doubtless) deep river. Big-eyed Loris Carroll invites him to a tea party with fluttery Flyer Angelou and rotund T.S. Elephant. The puns don't stop there, but the bearish bard's imagination remains unfired until at last he lumbers back to his den to hibernate and "perchance to dream." And indeed, the following spring he wakes up with an idea for a play (tentatively?) titled "A Winter-Long Dream" and closes with a letter to readers asking what they will be reading or writing next. In her cartoon illustrations, Corrigan sandwiches sweet views of friendly critters in appropriate period dress between a blank membership certificate in the Literary Critters Guild at the beginning and a closing portrait gallery of the authors on whom the characters were based. (This book was reviewed digitally.) The play (on words) is definitely the thing! (Picture book. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.