FICTION

What Little Boys Are Made Of

by Robert NEUBECKER
illus. by author. unpaged. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Mar. 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202355-1. LC number unavailable.
COPY ISBN
PreS-K—In energetic cartoons that pop with color, this book adds some ingredients to the masculine part of that old nursery rhyme: "What are little boys made of?/Horses and lords and knights with swords,/Wings and tails and dragons with scales!" The spot art builds from a boy's imaginary play to a full spread of reality—"That's what little boys are made of." By the end, the text speculates that a boy's makeup consists of sugar and spice or puppy-dogs' tails but decides ultimately on snuggles and love. The illustrations are full of energy and fun and the book is well designed for sharing, but even in its expanded version, the rhyme still leans pretty heavily on traditional gender roles.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA
In this variation of the old nursery rhyme, boys are more than just "frogs and snails." They're "moon and stars," "oceans and whales!"--whatever a boy might imagine. And yes, Neubecker allows for a softer side, "a kiss and a hug. / a snuggle and / love." If one must categorize little boys, at least this book, with its bright, expressive illustrations, provides some more options.
Reviewed by Julie Roach , Mar 01, 2012

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