{"id":40970,"date":"2022-04-23T21:55:08","date_gmt":"2022-04-24T02:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40970"},"modified":"2022-04-23T21:55:08","modified_gmt":"2022-04-24T02:55:08","slug":"review-of-how-to-be-cooler-than-cool-by-sean-taylor-illustrated-by-jean-jullien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40970","title":{"rendered":"Review of How to Be Cooler Than Cool, by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>How to be Cooler Than Cool<\/em><\/p>\n

by Sean Taylor
\nillustrated by Jean Jullien<\/p>\n

Candlewick Press, 2021. 36 pages.
\nReview written April 8, 2022, from a library book
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

I’ve got a whole category of Delightfully Silly picture books, and this book fits right in with a story that makes my heart smile. I was already a big fan of these creators from their book Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise<\/a><\/em>, and this book is equally quirky and wonderful.<\/p>\n

As the book opens, Cat finds a pair of sunglasses. And they bring a revelation:<\/p>\n

“You know what,” she said.
\n“I’m not just any old cat at the playground.
\nI’m a real cool cat who can glide backward down the slide, looking cooler than cool . . .
\nWITH EXTRA COOL ON TOP!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But gliding down the slide doesn’t go as Cat had hoped, and among other things, the sunglasses go flying off her face.<\/p>\n

Cockatoo finds them.<\/p>\n

“You know what,” he said.
\n“I’m not just any old cockatoo.
\nI’m a supercool cockatoo
\nwho can dance coolly along the seesaw,
\ndoing the supercool cockatoo boogaloo!”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

><\/p>\n

But Cockatoo’s antics, too, don’t end up as cool as he’d hoped.<\/p>\n

Some more animals get into the act, and the book finishes up with a wonderful message that it’s not about trying to be cool — it’s all about having fun.<\/p>\n

But the fun part to this book is of course how it gets there — the expressive faces in the pictures, the comments in speech bubbles, and yes, seeing animals who think they’re cool having a downfall.<\/p>\n

This book is more for Kindergarten through first graders than preschoolers, and if I were booktalking in schools this year, this would be on top of my list. It would also work great for family storytimes — or, okay, anyone who has five minutes to read it. Yes, this is the sort of book I push on my coworkers to make them smile.<\/p>\n

Read this book! You’ll be cooler than cool if you do!<\/p>\n

candlewick.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/how_to_be_cooler_than_cool.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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