Publisher's Weekly Review
The young narrator of Hodgkinson's (The Big Monster Snorey Book) ode to reading is eager to dive into his book, but finding the perfect spot to enjoy it is no easy task. As he moves from one unusual location to the next, punchy rhymes and mixed-media collages reflect his pickiness and dissatisfaction. "Somewhere comfy. But not buzz-buzzy," he insists, as a bee loops its way toward a pot of flowers on a table beside his floral-patterned armchair. After a page turn, he wishes for a place "not all growly, itchy, fuzzy" while perched on a chair monster, complete with fangs and a long, reptilian tail. A menagerie of animals accumulates as the boy rejects additional reading spots: a lily pad is too soggy, a star too far away, a tree branch "way too high for me!" Eventually, the boy realizes that where you read isn't nearly as important as whom you read with. It's a message that should suit avid readers just fine, and they'll be tickled by the playful rhymes, oddball settings, and increasingly chaotic scenes of this literary quest. Ages 3-6. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Finding the perfect comfortable place to read can be a problem, as a young reader discovers."When I want to read, what I REALLY REALLY need is a place to sit." As the black-haired, paper-white child tries out a number of chairs, in each case something is bothersome: the first one tried is "comfy" but "buzz-buzzy," as a bee zooms by. In each scene the child sits in a different chair, but something is wrong. One is too itchy, and another is both dark and noisy. "GIANT STOMPING boots" make another setting inhospitable to reading, and a chair next to the garbage can just will not do. Seat after seat is pronounced unsuitable, until."But wait, hang onYES THAT'S IT! It doesn't matter where you sit / a book is best anywherea book is best when you SHARE." Though the plot's not much to speak of, this extended, playful reading-centered riff on "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" is enlivened by the quirky multimedia art in sophisticated, earthy colors that reflect the author/illustrator's animation background. Busy patterns and unexpected angles make each page a seek-and-find exercise, and the child picks up a new animal friend, unmentioned in the text, in each scene. The clever page design flaunts bouncy, vigorous typefaces. Kids are likely to want to mimic the pseudo musical chairs device, and the story will be just as much fun to share with a group as one-on-one. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A boy's quest to find the perfect place to read takes him on a fanciful journey. The boy, rendered in black and white, chooses a book from a rainbow-hued shelf and sets out to find a good place to sit and read. His first pick, a bright floral armchair, is too buzzy, thanks to a nearby bee. A toothy monster chair is too growly, itchy, fuzzy, and a trash-strewn corner is too smelly, stinky, grimy. While the rhyming lines don't always scan, Hodgkinson's inventive, well-designed images, composed of whimsical figures on richly textured backgrounds full of warm, eye-catching hues, nicely uphold the narrative. As the boy tries out each location, his chair complements elements of the setting, and characters from each page reappear as the story progresses. After trying out 10 different chairs, the boy considers the friends he has collected, and chooses a whole new approach: a book is best anywhere . . . a book is best when you share. A natural choice for group storytime.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2017 Booklist
