From School Library Journal's January issue:
TORREY, Richard. The Almost Terrible Playdate. illus. by Richard Torrey. 40p. Doubleday. Feb. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780553510997.
PreS-Gr 1–Having a playdate can be the best, but agreeing on what to play is another story. Two children exchange ideas, but neither one is willing to compromise and accept the other’s suggestions.
When the girl posits that she is a wizard and that the boy is a frog-turned-pony on which her doll can ride, the boy is frustrated imagining himself a frog.
When the boy suggests they both be race cars competing for the title of Champion of the Universe, the girl imagines covering her ears at the deafening sound.
The story continues back and forth, until the action reaches a crescendo and the children resolve to play alone. That is, until they find a way for their ideas to coexist.
The art is consistent throughout, showing each child in black pencil outline with single-colored clothing and their ideas illustrated to life in the corresponding color of their clothes.
There are no background illustrations, so the eye focuses directly on the images each child is conjuring through his or her ideas.
Often the imagined self of the child is taking on the same pose as the real-life child while they are going back and forth.
VERDICT A clever story of dueling imaginations.–Matthew C. Winner, Ducketts Lane Elementary School, Elkridge, MD
To read the review on the School Library Journal website, click here.