The Red Racer

From Publishers Weekly With the nonstop visual assault of a Saturday morning TV ad, this spirited romp speaks the language of its young audience. That's probably because each over-the-top page betrays Wood's (The Napping House) childlike eagerness to experiment in her first digitally illustrated book. Thankfully, the story is strong enough?and indeed hyperbolic enough itself?to hold its own in the whirlwind of color and pattern. When some "brats" tease Nona about her clunker of a bike, she asks her parents for a new Red Racer. They decline, and she hatches several devious schemes to "lose" her bike?but people keep finding it and returning it to her. The "wicked thoughts" that tempt Nona are depicted as oozy, green monsters that gain in size with each inspiration; the brats are looming, purple-, green- and blue-haired hellions; every page has a different, eye-popping background. For all the new-fangled technology called into use, however, the story emphasizes the importance of community, thrift and other traditional values. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 3?Bullies tease Nona about her broken-down bicycle. After her parents refuse to buy her a shiny new Deluxe Red Racer, she decides that if she can lose or wreck her old bike, they will have to give in. This "wicked thought" leads her to throw the bike in the dump, push it off a pier, and abandon it on railroad tracks. The first two times, neighbors rescue it, much to Nona's dismay. Then her parents surprise her with all the parts needed to refurbish her bike, and she races to the station herself. At the end, the "new" bike looks just like the one of her dreams. The digital illustrations have the look of a videogame in places, especially some of the backgrounds. The "wicked thought," a shape-shifting green blob, expands through the pages as Nona's determination to do the wrong thing increases. The illustrations have a cartoonlike quality that will appeal to children, who will recognize Nona's wish for something new. Her naughtiness is unmistakable but understandable. Her remorse when she thinks the train has flattened her bike is genuine. Strong visuals and a believable heroine make a winning combination.?Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MNCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.