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Koehler, Fred
3 Reviews
(3)
4-6
Nearly Always Perilous Adventures of Archibald Shrew series.
In the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Mr. Popli (serious mouse mayor of Garbage Island) and fellow rodent Archibald Shrew (a reckless inventor) rarely see eye to eye. When their island falls apart, they must weather storms, predators, and misunderstandings to survive. Koehler's first novel is full of funny dialogue, and his black-and-white illustrations help readers understand the scope of this tiny, isolated world.
Reviewer: Jenn Matters
(3)
K-3
In this companion to How to Cheer Up Dad, young elephant Little Jumbo tries to be a superhero, but his "good deeds" often go awry. In contrast to the earnest text ("he tirelessly crusaded against the forces of evil"), the illustrations reveal, with excellent comic timing, the slapstick truth. A slyly humorous conclusion suggests that friendship and kindness can be heroic in their own right.
Reviewer: Martha Sibert
(3)
K-3
"Little Jumbo's dad was having a bad day." The joke is that the little elephant is cluelessly responsible for his dad's frustrations--e.g., Jumbo shoots the raisins intended for his oatmeal at the ceiling with his trunk (Dad "should have known what a mess that would make"). Plenty of white space and a modest palette foreground an entertaining father-child dynamic.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
3 reviews
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