School Library Journal Review
PreS-KSerfozo uses a question-and-answer format with spare text and simple rhymes to turn learning into a delightful guessing game. "What's light?" asks the text in bold black type on a bright white page. "Daytime is light." These words, accompanied by a lovely watercolor illustration of two African American children outdoors at play, are immediately followed by yet another poser: "What's dark?" Once again, young readers can make their own guesses before turning the page to discover the same brother and sister huddled under a blanket-improvised tent with an owl and the moon looking down upon them in still another glorious illustration. But, Serfozo isn't finished yet. She offers kids a real tantalizer: "What's soft and hard and warm and cold and wet and dry...all at the same time?" Children turn the page to find an exuberant puppy almost literally jumping off the pages. Yes, a puppy has all the qualities children have learned in this right on-target concept book. Narahashi's splendid watercolors, which may remind readers of Ezra Jack Keats's best work, capture all of the joy and sense of wonder of the childhood investigations Serfozo names and celebrates. Children splash in rain puddles, but they also share gentle, quiet moments on Mama's lap and at bedtime. A wonderful book that proves that simple joys, like a sandy beach and making cookies, are still the best things.Jerry D. Flack, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
As in Serfozo and Narahashi's previous collaborations (Who Wants One?; Who Said Red?), this book features a simple text, appealing watercolors and a surprise ending that is sure to please. Each in a series of questions ("What's hard?" "What's soft?") is answered by a three-line verse at the turn of the page ("A sidewalk is hard/ as a rock or a wall./ So look out where you fall!"). Unfortunately, the generally lilting text is not consistently rhythmic, and unimaginative book design diminishes the effectiveness of Narahashi's sweetly joyful illustrations. Left-hand pages show a full-bleed watercolor illustrating answers to the preceding question; on the facing page, the next question appears with minimal adornment on negative space. While the layout encourages participation in the "guessing game," the spreads seem visually lopsided. At the end, the individual questions are strung together in a single riddle: "What's soft and hard and warm and cold and wet and dry and long and short and light and dark all at the same time?" The answeran irresistible brown-and-white puppy bounding across a sun-yellow spreadwill delight the preschool audience to which this book is best suited. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Soft colorful pictures infused with light and defined by shadow and white silhouette invite readers to explore opposing concepts, such as hard and soft, wet and dry. The book does not function as a true guessing game; rather, the gentle, rhyming text suggests definitions for each concept and allows readers to offer further examples. A final question brings all the elements happily together in a cuddly puppy. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A charmingly simple rhyming concept book from the team behind Rain Talk (1990) about opposite qualities that all culminate in one lovable creature. ``Ice cream is cold,'' ``Slippers are warm,'' and ``Shorts are short,'' but ``what's soft and hard and warm and cold and wet and dry and long and short and light and dark all at the same time?'' The answer is a puppy whose nails are hard, ``His nose is wet and cold . . . And he's soft and warm and dry.'' It's a grand surprise, and the illustrations of an affectionate brown- skinned brother and little sister add another dimension of gentleness and comfort. Rhyme, riddle, and art--this is a winner on all counts. (Picture book. 3-6)
Booklist Review
Ages 2^-5. In a simple concept book about physical sensations and about opposites, the story, ideas, design, and illustrations work beautifully together. Toddlers will be drawn to the playful action and to the warm watercolor pictures of a brother and sister having fun together. The design is great for sharing. One page asks the question, "What's hard?" Turn the page, and a rhyming text gives the answer, "A sidewalk is hard as a rock or a wall. So look out where you fall!" and the picture shows the boy on roller skates falling down hard on the sidewalk. In contrast, the answer to "What's soft?" is the boy being comforted on his mother's lap with a pillow and a teddy bear. Cold is the ice cream that brother and sister eat on the beach as the sea spray blows cold and the wave foam chases their toes; in contrast, warm is their feeling snug in their slippers on the fireside rug. Then, unlike most concept books, the climax is a real surprise. There is one thing that is all the physical sensations at once; warm and cold, hard and soft, wet and dry, long and short, light and dark--it's a puppy. Narahashi's soft-toned pictures of an African American family are full of hugs and warmth. This is a winner for the lapsit crowd. --Hazel Rochman
