Starred review from April 18, 2022
A toilet plunger yearns to be a vase in Torres’s moving object lesson of identity and purpose. When the bathroom mainstay announces its dreams of bringing more beauty to the world, it’s initially met with nothing but negativity: “You’re shaped like a plunger,” insists the nearby sink. “That’s your job. That’s what you were made for.” But the plunger manages to attach some flowers to its handle (a green pot immediately exclaims, “Oh, yay, look! It’s a vase!”), unleashing a torrent of declarations from other household fixtures: the pan yearns to be a trash can, the trash can wishes to be a sofa pillow, the puzzle wants to be a plunger. The vacuum cleaner initially defends the status quo, but is finally won over by a plea to live and let live. Not everyone is suited to their assigned jobs—being a plunger “wasn’t my choice,” says the newly declared vase—and besides, “Isn’t it nice to see everyone happy?” It’s a thoughtful and broadly applicable fable with saturated, 3-D-style art by Glander, which takes readers throughout the house. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 4–8.
May 15, 2022
Oh, the things you can be! A toilet plunger announces it wants to be a vase. Despite reasonable dissenting arguments from its bathroom neighbors, the plunger can't be swayed. This angers the imperious vacuum cleaner, who insists that things should stick to their everyday jobs. Its firm opposition doesn't faze the plunger, who wants what it wants. Soon, other household items climb aboard the self-actualization train; the saucepan decides to be a trash can, for instance. (One riotous page depicts improbable uses for other common appliances.) The vacuum really loses it when the hair dryer announces its desire to be...a vacuum cleaner, prompting the vacuum to furiously spew dirt everywhere. Happily, with the hair dryer's help, the vacuum soon has the place spotless and grudgingly compliments the plunger's flowers. The premise is odd but comical and certainly original; children will giggle contemplating different uses for everyday gadgets. Kids are great at pretending and playing imaginative games, so they won't have trouble buying into the whimsy on offer. They'll appreciate the reassuring, empowering message to be who you are if that makes you happy, and the collaboration and acceptance themes will resonate. The colorful digital illustrations, featuring dollhouselike miniatures representing common household goods, are very appealing. Varying typefaces and fonts signal different voices "spoken" by the objects. Note the hilarious final declaration from the book itself. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Great for stimulating creative thinking and art activities: What else can ordinary objects be? (Picture book. 4-7)
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July 1, 2022
Gr 3-5-What begins as a shocking declaration from a toilet plunger turns into an allegorical tumult of support, voiced by other household objects, about being whatever you want to be. Composed entirely of dialogue between the household objects as they negate, discuss, then clamor over toilet plunger's idea to change to their desired job, rather than an appointed one, this story mixes humor with its celebration of self-identity. However, certain turns of phrase and references, such as a flower-filled daydream sequence, are more suited for older readers to understand. Similarly, advanced vocabulary and cramped dialogue in difficult left-to-right progressions suggests that the story fits a more proficient reader. Luminous, eye-catching 3-D illustrations appear like stills of stop-motion animation, treating perspectives of the household objects like people. For the right age group, this is a hilarious read-aloud that begs for strong voice performance for each character's distinct personality. VERDICT For collections with access to older, proficient readers, an enthusiastic dialogue between vividly rendered household objects ultimately triggers sincere affirmation about being whatever you want to be.-Rachel Mulligan
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