From Publishers Weekly
Camp (previously paired with Ross for The Midnight Feast) employs a comfortable storytelling style to evoke a stage of childhood familiar to parents everywhere, then adds playful dialogue asides and a dash of the fantastic. Lily nearly drives her father bonkers by forever asking "why." The duo's daily routine abounds with such exasperating exchanges as: "Time for bed, Lily." "Why?"; "It's time you were dressed." "Why?" But during an outing to the park one day, Lily's penchant for pourquoi proves particularly handy. A "gigantic Thargon spaceship" descends near the playground, and the aliens inside threaten to destroy Earth. Lily's well-timed "why" questions fortunately cause the Thargons to reconsider and lift off back into space. Ross's cross-hatched colored-pencil illustrations are equal parts warm and whimsical, a jolly complement to the text's lighthearted mood. And to great effect, many spreads are divided, comic-book-style, into panel illustrations, allowing room for fun-to-read dialogue balloons. Ages 4-8. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Lily greets every statement with the question, "Why?" driving her father to distraction. Though he struggles valiantly to come up with reasonable responses, he sometimes finds himself with his head buried under a sofa pillow. One day in the park, father and daughter are having their usual exchange when a huge spaceship lands next to the sandbox. The Thargon leader declares his intention of destroying Earth and is greeted by stunned silence, except for Lily's "Why?" Caught in a frustrating question-answering spiral, the aliens quickly decide that they should reconsider their plan and make their exit. The invaders speak to each other in Thargish via dialogue balloons and there is a key at the end for intrepid readers who want to translate the language or use it for their own secret messages. Filled with colorful textured lines, Ross's whimsical illustrations add lots of visual humor. With his customary wit, the artist depicts a tiger-striped family cat, oozy blue-green aliens, and a feisty heroine with a sturdy stance and stick-straight red hair. Some of the artwork is arranged in comic-book squares, while other illustrations fill full- or double-page spreads. Children who are mired in the "Why?" stage will enjoy Camp's sprightly story as a one-on-one read-aloud. Those on the other side of "Why?" will delight in a trip down memory lane in a group or independent reading. A good choice-without question.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
