Review by Booklist Review
Everyone laughs and cheers when little Sam ("a newish baby") learns to do a new thing, from waving her arms and clapping her hands to taking off her diaper. But she hasn't said her first word yet. What will it be? Mama wants it to be "Mama" and so sings the word 63 times. Papa's lengthy monologue likewise has but one word: "Papa." Maybe it will be "Nana" or (for the next-door neighbor) "Mr. Theotopolous." In fact, the grown-ups are so intent on their own notions that they don't hear her say "Poop." Even when she waves her arms, even when she claps her hands, they don't hear--not, in fact, until she does her other trick. Everyone says it then, oh yes, which makes her laugh and cheer. Fine-lined cartoon illustrations featuring an expressive redhead sporting a stylish elastic headband and, often, not much else reflect the joyful tone of this nifty, high-spirited bit of toddler turnabout.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With rhythmic prose and textural digital illustrations sure to draw giggles, Birdsong and Hatam follow "newish baby" Sam, whose first word is not receiving the attention she wants. Mama, Papa, Nana, and neighbor Mr. Theotopolous are intent on getting Sam to make their respective names her first word, going to extreme measures to ensure their success. (Mr. Theotopolous recites a poem--"His poem had forty-four words. Twenty-two of them were Mister. The other twenty-two were Theotopolous.") But Sam has a more pressing issue at hand--or rather, in diaper. Casual, oft-comedic phrasing emphasizes the childlike perspective as pale-skinned protagonist Sam navigates her way among the "big people." With vivid, large print accentuating Sam's new word, this picture book is sure to please any child who enjoys scatological humor. Ages 4--8. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS--Sam is a baby who is learning to do all kinds of things, to the great delight of all the grown-ups in her life. Sam's mother, father, grandma, and neighbor all plot to get her to say their names as her first word. As the grown-ups muse over ways to get the baby to say their names, Sam gets more and more frustrated, until she finally figures out a way to get what she wants. Her actual first word, ignored by all the adults in funny scenes, is, "poop." Cartoony digital illustrations depict Sam's antics alongside the ever-faithful Farnsworth, the family dog, with speech bubbles for the characters that match their outfits. Sam joyfully gets what she wants, stripping off her clothes and diaper to get the attention of the adults in her life. Children will delight in the scatological humor and fast-paced plot, while grown-ups will appreciate the scenes-from-real-life quest. In Hatam's cheerful watercolor-like scenes, Sam and her family present as white, while neighbor Mr. Theotopoulos has dark skin. VERDICT An easy first purchase, where lowbrow humor meets screwball comedy, this sweet and silly read-aloud is perfect for story times.--Kelsey Socha, Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield, MA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A decidedly cheeky first-word book. Little Sam is the adored child of Mama and Papa. She also has a doting grandmother and a friendly neighbor named Mr. Theotopolous (whose surname suggests Greek heritage and whose light-brown complexion is darker than Sam's light-skinned family). Everyone cheers Sam on as she achieves various milestones, and they anxiously await her first word. To humorous effect, they also each try to coach her so that word is Mama, Papa, Nana, and Mr. Theotopolous, respectively. They get so caught up in that coaching that they miss the fact that Sam is already saying her first word, repeatedly: "Poop." Unfortunately, this punchline is given away on the book's cover, which undermines the humor on a first reading, but this is the only misstep in a book that otherwise gets its pacing just right. Hatam's crisp, bright illustrations capture Sam's efforts to get the grown-ups' attention as she finally resorts to stripping off her soiled diaper and declaring "POOP!" one final time. Like many a toddler, Sam stands proudly naked, the cartoon style presenting a frontal view of the child without anatomical detail. A clever ending reveals Sam's second word as the cherry on top of this sweet toddler story. Fresh, fun, and funny. (Picture book. 2-4) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
