What on Earth--? - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 2-- This brisk book cleverly contrasts the ways in which children and adults see the world. Laura, a young girl full of imagination, uses all sorts of household objects (including the family cats) as props in her energetic adventures. She imagines that she is scuba diving, bouncing on a trampoline, supervising the construction of a building, and even exploring a distant planet. Meanwhile, her bewildered father follows her from room to room and repeatedly asks her "What on earth do you think you're doing . . . ?" While the repetitions--somewhat varied each time--of this phrase will eventually wear on readers, the humor and charm of Rees's lively cartoon-style illustrations more than compensate for that flaw. Each spread provides alternate glimpses of the same scene, first from the father's point of view, then from Laura's. The paired pictures are similar in their frenetic energy and cheerful messiness, and Rees uses items from the real world in Laura's fantasies to reinforce these connections. A versatile and amusing book that, with its humor and repetition, will be particularly useful for storytime programs, but that will also amply reward individuals willing to search the busy scenes for hidden jokes. --Lisa Dennis, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In the tradition of Burningham's Come Away from the Water, Shirley (1977), Dad complains about Laura's uproarious behavior, pictured on left-hand pages, while her parallel imaginary adventures are shown on the right: deep-sea diving, riding a magic carpet, scaling a mountain, etc. In a neat reversal, returning Mom blames Dad for the mess, while Laura's last adventure just may be for real. Neither as subtle nor as neatly structured as Burningham's book, but Rees has an agile, witty pen and kids are sure to enjoy the mayhem. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.