Sam Helps Out - Hardcover

ea. vol: illus. by Jonathan Lambert. unpaged. Aladdin. 1988. Tr $4.95. LC number unavailable. PreSchool-Grade 1 Two unsuccessful books. In Sam at the Seaside, Sam surfs on a shark's nose and reels in a submarine. In the second, he helps his mother with disastrous results. The sink overflows, cans crash at the grocery store, the hose shoots water on the neighbor next door. The pencil and watercolor illustrations filling both pages are too cluttered. The fold-out half pages when opened expand the double-page spread, but when closed, the flaps are other wildlife perch on the dishes. There is just too much going on, most of it unrelated to the text. Finally, Sam is a totally flat character with the same smirk on his face and saggy diaper from beginning to end. Preschool children, not to mention older ones, will not be able to relate to these books. There are many gimmick books that are well done (notably Hill's ``Spot'' series Putnam); these should be deep-sixed. Nancy Kewish, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

These quirky and original imports from Britain feature Sam, a diaper-clad toddler who walks unscathed through a sea of trouble. The books are lift-the-flaps that pose dilemmas on a right-hand gatefold page and require the reader to turn to the next page to see what happens. For example, on one flap, Sam announces, "I like to go out shopping, too. We need some beansthis can will do." He pulls a can from the bottom of the stack; the resulting havoc is shown on the next page. Although Faulkner's story lines are fairly predictable, Lambert's illustrations are filled with bizarre and funny details. And readers will learn the value of suspending disbelief in the name of a good visual punchline. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.