FICTION

Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader

by Jolene Gutiérrez (text) & illus. by Heather Bell
Clear Fork. Aug. 2020. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781950169252.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2–After observing the class guinea pigs snuggling, Oliver decides to move closer to the other kids in his classroom. Although he is simply trying to make friends, Oliver learns a tough lesson about personal space.His compassionate teacher, Ms. López, explains to him that he should ask first before entering someone else’s personal space. The book has some pleasing compositions, such as the framing of text inside a hula hoop. But it also has some confounding ones. For example, when one child yells about his personal space, the hand-drawn font is radically different than any other text in the story, and which is out of place with the rest of the pastel palette.
VERDICT The lesson about personal space is valuable, but the text lacks charm and the book’s artwork detracts from the message. And although the book is named after two guinea pigs, they barely feature in the tale.
Reviewed by Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA , Jun 01, 2020

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