Problem Solved!

May 22, 2023
Via her signature color-block art and high-energy humor, Thomas (Even Robots Aren’t Perfect!) kicks off with a familiar scenario in which a problem’s proposed fix causes more trouble than the issue itself. When Rabbit’s room grows so messy that there’s no space to “go hippity-hoppity,” Rabbit declares that it’s a problem. Luckily, Pete the Problem-Solving Porcupine overhears this lament out a window and pops right in, ready to take the case. Just when it appears that some Marie Kondo–level tidying is about to go down, Pete turns the tables: after carefully folding all of Rabbit’s shirts, the porcupine determines to “FEED THEM TO THE GOLDFISH!” But what Pete views as a problem solved requires Rabbit’s action to avert disaster. Pete tackles each mess with similarly chaotic verve—trying to flush toys down the toilet and place art in the bathtub—until Rabbit’s defensive moves get the job done. And Rabbit even solves the new conundrum in the bargain, alerting Pete to another client... on Mars. Thomas’s fans will find much to giggle at as they take in the hijinks of this jovial order-from-chaos tale. Ages up to 8. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt.

June 15, 2023
Porcupine Pete knows just how to fix Rabbit's problem. Rabbit's room is a mess--Rabbit can't go "hippity-hoppity" without stepping on something. But Porcupine Pete is here to help. Porcupine Pete's ideas range in success. Carefully folding all of Rabbit's shirts is a good idea, but feeding those shirts to the goldfish is not--despite Porcupine Pete's enthusiastic "PROBLEM SOLVED!" Luckily, Rabbit steps in and places the shirts neatly in the dresser. Stacking all the blocks helps tidy the room, but Pete's suggestion of flushing them down the toilet is less than ideal. Again, Rabbit catches Pete in time and stows the toys safely. It's unclear whether Pete has poor problem-solving skills or is using reverse psychology, but either way, Rabbit modifies each of Pete's giggleworthy suggestions, and soon every object is in its rightful place. (Caregivers may pick up ideas for encouraging little ones to clean up their own rooms.) It looks like Pete is out of a job until the friends read a newspaper reporting that scientists on Mars are in need of help. Will the scientists there be able to cope with Porcupine Pete's wild ideas? This goofy tale has just a few well-selected words per page; the text is primarily made up of speech bubbles. Thick-lined cartoon illustrations set against solid backgrounds are rich with emotion, action, and humor. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Will help parents solve a perennial problem with humor and empower children to turn cluttered rooms into neat ones. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2023
Rabbit stands in the middle of her messy bedroom: "Uh-oh. This is a PROBLEM." In pops Porcupine Pete, "Your Problem-Solving Porcupine," who, in the tradition of many self-proclaimed helpers in children's literature, proceeds to escalate the problem exponentially. As ever, Thomas (The Chicken Who Couldn't, rev. 11/20) has her finger on the pulse of the storytime crowd. Pete tries to feed Rabbit's shirts to the goldfish, to flush toys down the toilet, and more. His "PROBLEM SOLVED!" refrain is as catchy as it is misleading, and kids will happily chant along. Rabbit begins to realize that she needs to get rid of Pete; she sees a newspaper report and tells him: "The scientists need a problem solver on Mars. They need you!" A coda reveals the Mars scientists' reaction to Pete (spoiler alert: not great). Thomas's digital illustrations are thick-lined, vibrant, and slick. This is a rollicking read-aloud, and with its straightforward language, repetitive vocabulary, and cyclical, predictable plot, it also serves the needs of beginning readers. Adrienne L. Pettinelli

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Rabbit stands in the middle of her messy bedroom: "Uh-oh. This is a PROBLEM." In pops Porcupine Pete, "Your Problem-Solving Porcupine," who, in the tradition of many self-proclaimed helpers in children's literature, proceeds to escalate the problem exponentially. As ever, Thomas (The Chicken Who Couldn't, rev. 11/20) has her finger on the pulse of the storytime crowd. Pete tries to feed Rabbit's shirts to the goldfish, to flush toys down the toilet, and more. His "PROBLEM SOLVED!" refrain is as catchy as it is misleading, and kids will happily chant along. Rabbit begins to realize that she needs to get rid of Pete; she sees a newspaper report and tells him: "The scientists need a problem solver on Mars. They need you!" A coda reveals the Mars scientists' reaction to Pete (spoiler alert: not great). Thomas's digital illustrations are thick-lined, vibrant, and slick. This is a rollicking read-aloud, and with its straightforward language, repetitive vocabulary, and cyclical, predictable plot, it also serves the needs of beginning readers.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)