Review by School Library Journal Review
Chapter Books
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A squid and friends -- a turtle, pufferfish, and crab -- snag some clothes hanging off the side of a small boat in this kooky, distinctive book for early readers. The buoyant text relies on one-syllable words and a poetic use of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition in phrases and short sentences that have a Seussian cadence. "Four friends, one boat. Two socks, one coat." Pages awash in dappled shades of turquoise, aqua, peach, and raspberry reflect the playful mood as the wide-eyed ocean creatures try on clothes and bicker over who gets the flip-flops. Geisel honoree Windness (for Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends) seamlessly incorporates speech bubbles into the text, adding a layer of complexity and interest while also keeping the low-stakes plot sashaying along. When Squid gets upset, disaster strikes: "I inked!" The friends have just figured out how to work the ink stains into their evolving sense of style when along comes the kid from the boat: "Give my clothes back!" Negotiations ensue, a pair of underwear's early appearance pays off, and the sea creatures put on a parade. A coda with the kid sporting a marine-modified outfit ties the bow on this amusing offering. Adrienne L. PettinelliJuly/August 2025 p.106 (c) Copyright 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
A fashion-loving cephalopod goes in search of undies. Squid craves clothes--especially the tighty whities seen in an ad. Squid's three stalwart friends Crab, Turtle, and Fish grab some clothes hanging over the side of a young snorkeler's boat, and a shower of garments floats down. Crab snags a tank top and with a "SNIP! CLIP!" transforms it into a crop top; the raincoat is big enough for three of the sea creatures. After donning the pants, Squid has an "accident" ("I inked"), so Crab offers to swap outfits. But Squid can't quite control the ink flow, and soon it's covered everything. Never mind: The four friends aren't dismayed and decide to adorn the clothes with bows made from eels. Then the angry, tan-skinned snorkeling kid in the boat dives down to reclaim the pilfered clothes: Uh-oh! Squid trades the clothes for the child's pair of briefs and shares them with the others. Everyone shows off in an undersea parade with other dressed-up creatures. The characters are all big-eyed and smiley. Colorful, sea-tinted pages and free-floating compositions pack a lot of action onto each page, along with surprising rhymes rocking in a four-beat wave-rhythm. Fun to read aloud, this graphic novel will inspire beginners to plunge into reading on their own. A rollicking, ridiculous rhyming adventure bound to be in high demand.(Graphic fiction/early reader. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
