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Wumbers by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld (view source)

Revision as of 20:13, 8 May 2012

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|summary=A smartly produced blend of words and numbers. Everything ticks the right boxes, except for the fact that the target audience isn't entirely clear. Those who love it will love it above all else, but there are many people that it won't click with.

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"''Wumbers'' mixes - as you might have guessed - words and numbers. Think text speak that doesn't horrify stuffy parents. Each page takes in a different scene, with a speech bubble along the lines of ''Look at his 2can ta2!"" It takes a little bit of decoding for its young readers (and rapidly ageing reviewers) but look upon it as a bit of a game, and it's good fun.

I absolutely loved [[:Category:Amy Krouse Rosenthal|Amy Krouse Rosenthal's]] and [[Category:Tom Lichtenheld|Tom Lich10held's]] previous book, [[Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld|Duck! Rabbit!]], and was very excited by what they'd produce (or rather, cre8) next. I enjoyed it personally, but I'm unsure who'll best appreci8 it. The youngest readers, who'd usually have such picture books, won't realise that there's anything different, apart from less plot and a slightly more stilted reading. Newly confident readers will be taken back to the time when books were more of a struggle to read for them, and I'm not sure they'll really want to be. The older and more able the readers get, the less they'll be happy with the lack of plot. Somewhere, there's some1 who'll absolutely adore it!

Tom Lich10held's illustr8tions are bold, bright and engaging. Every page is gr8 to take in, mixing a variety of characters in a range of scenes. The text is smartly chosen 2 - everything is accessible 2 as wide a range of ages as possible. British readers might not have heard of 10nies (short 4 10nis shoes), but it's easy to figure out from the pictures. The words and illustr8tions work very well together throughout.

There's nothing specific to knock, other than who it might be pitched at. But that is a fundamental concern, and more so than in almost any other picture book I've come across. 4 all that I enjoyed it personally, I'm at a loss as to who I should be strongly recommending it 2. It's playful, it's different, it's very well done, but surprisingly, that's not quite enough this time."

If codes and games are your thing, check out [[Mysterious Messages - A History of Codes and Ciphers by Gary Blackwood]]. If it's a picture book you're after, then look no further than [[Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld]] as it is one of the very best - and I can't wait to see what Amy and Tom do next.

Keith

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