From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K The story starts with a warning on the inside jacket: This book may cause uncontrollable giggling in children. Taxali fully embraces this caveat as readers fall down the rabbit hole with Silly Sol and are immediately lost in a surreal world of 1930s-like Saturday-morning cartoon characters and toys. A bit
Alice in Wonderland, a bit Dr. Seuss, this short, rhyming story takes Silly Sol tumbling over cliffs, driving through clouds, and meeting characters such as Willy (who resembles a flying Nutter Butter), a baby Shriner, and a blue creature aptly named Manic Monkey. The rhyming text is not plot-driven but revels in phonemic silliness, with lots of action and playful turns of phrase. The self-proclaimed tumbling tomfoolery ends with a mirror, giving readers the license to develop their own silliness. The combination of vibrant illustrations with rollicking rhymes will engage young readers and art buffs alike. More than just a nod to vintage typography and animation, the book presents characters that seem familiar but by their own admission are silly beyond recognition. Taxali successfully melds a fun story with a design aesthetic rarely seen in children's picture books.
Sarah Townsend, Norfolk Public Library, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Gary Taxali is an award-winning artist and teacher, and is the creator of many successful and highly collectible vinyl figurines. Gary was born in Chandigarh, India in 1968, and a year later his family emigrated to Toronto, Canada. In 2005, he launched his first vinyl toy, The Toy Monkey, which included a special edition specifically created for The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Aside from his gallery shows and illustration work, Gary also devotes a portion of his time to lecturing and teaching at various arts organizations and schools. He has received a Gold Medal from The Society of Illustrators, a gold National Magazine Award, and a National Gold Addy from the American Advertising Federation. THIS IS SILLY! is Gary's first picture book.
