Who What Where?

August 22, 2016
Tallec follows 2015’s Who Done It? with another round of questioning, with readers asked to identify the culprits in a series of low-stakes domestic incidents. Like the previous book, the pages lift vertically, and the low, squat dimensions of the book play into the mock police-style lineups depicted in Tallec’s droll pencil-and-acrylic illustrations. “Who stepped in paint?” he asks as readers see red footprints tracked across a living room. Four animals, all looking guilty, line up below, but the trace of red on the duck’s webbed feet is a dead giveaway. The could-be perpetrators often point at each other in an attempt at misdirection, but the evidence generally speaks for itself. Determining who did what is half the fun, but there’s plenty to talk about and enjoy in these quirky vignettes. Ages 3–5.

January 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Ingeniously quick-witted, this follow-up to Who Done It? has the same slim horizontal design and is also filled with mini-mysteries in a question format. Each spread features a question that can be answered by a careful study of the illustration. Below, in an identity parade, are the cast of characters from whom readers can choose, including finely drawn animals and humans. The pencil and acrylic paint illustrations, drawn on thick and sturdy white paper, are sophisticated and quirky, oftentimes making the answers harder than readers might first think, as is the case with, "Who got stuck in the tree trunk?" The blend of simple and more complex questions to ponder keeps viewers on their toes with each page turn. VERDICT This is a treasure of a title to share with readers of all ages, as both old and young alike will be drawn to the magic of these mysteries.-Lisa G. Kropp, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2016
Preschool-G *Starred Review* This horizontal board book, a follow-up to Who Done It? (2015), moves us along on a journey with questions asked, hints given, and answers revealed on the final pages. A simple question is posed on each page, with four or five possible responses. The questions, which closely connect to a child's life, fall naturally in the voice of the parent: Who forgot shoes? Who got stuck? Who is hiding? It's up to the child, assisted by the illustrations, to provide the answers, which are not always obvious and require careful observation. The possible participants (sometimes culprits) include a diverse group of children and animals, portrayed with a light comic touch. Readers will enjoy paying careful attention to the outfits and body shapes of these characters because of the bright colors, which stand out against the predominantly white pages, and the exaggerated expressions of many of the animals. The observant child will connect the size of the slippers with the size of feet, or the color of the boots with the feet hiding under the rug. The fun of solving these mysteries and honing one's observation skills makes this an all-around win that encourages readers to slow down and look at things carefully. Fresh, imaginative fun, with a formula that begs to be repeated again.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)