From Publishers Weekly
Three favorite school chants get the royal treatment from a trio of children's books veterans. Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky brilliantly reimagines the song as a boy's daydream, Knick-Knack Paddywhack!: A Moving Parts Book, with engineering by Andrew Baron. Youngsters lift a flap to "Give the dog a bone"; under the flap, the "old man [comes] rolling home" on a bicycle. The focus of the spread features a boy in striped pajamas who, when readers tug a pull-tab, reveals the old man holding the numeral one (and "play[ing] knick-knack" on the boy's thumb). The final spread shows 10 little old men rolling down the hillside.-- knick-knack" on the boy's thumb). The final spread shows 10 little old men rolling down the hillside.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-No bones about it, this glorious title is a paper-engineering and bookmaking marvel as well as a freewheeling romp. Adapting the traditional counting song, Zelinsky gets maximum mileage out of the minimal nonsense text, larding the visual narrative with dogs, bones, and plenty of old men, each of whom plays "knick-knack paddywhack" with a numerical instrument and uses a different wheeled conveyance to come "rolling home." The artwork uses warm, cheery tones on the full-bleed pages. A rosy-cheeked boy is the focus of each spread; readers follow as he and his dog head outside and have some adventures before rolling home on his skateboard. Pull-tabs and flaps abound as the wacky action plays out and a bevy of tiny men make their progressive appearances. Perfectly enchanting little miniatures and moving parts within the flaps reveal copious attention to detail and each spread invites repeated viewing. Kids will love to sing, count, and clap along.
Luann Toth, School Library JournalCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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