Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bright pink Pablo is acquiescent as can be while getting ready for a big party--he eats oatmeal when there's no time for pancakes ("Um. OK," he says, clearly disappointed), clears his dishes, goes potty, and washes his hands. But a kid's autonomy can only be squashed so much, and Pablo finally strikes back when asked to don trousers: "NO PANTS!" With escalating levels of comic opposition and impatience, all-dialogue text by Grant (Bear Meets Bear) should make for a boisterous readaloud as Dad marshals elaborate counter-arguments evoking family, history, and tradition: "Pants have been made in every shape and size you can imagine, and people wear pants all around the planet. Even in space!" Pablo, meanwhile, asserts that he'll wear the pants, just not on his legs: "Upside down pants are the best pants!" Dad eventually wins this funny and realistic skirmish of wills, but via a droll turn, it's Pablo who triumphs in the war of independence. Digitally colored charcoal, crayon, pencil, and cut paper illustrations are authentically slice-of-life, with a crisp energy that packs the wallop of animation and comics. Ages 3--5. Agent: Steven Chudney, the Chudney Agency. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS--Children will find much to love in Pablo, who after the disappointment over oatmeal, not pancakes, and after putting his dish in the sink, brushing his teeth, and more, declares, "No pants!" Father and son, both brown-skinned with dark hair, debate the origins of pants, who wears them, what style, but with the need to leave for a party pressing on them, the conversation grows heated. Colorful illustrations show all the shenanigans, highlighting the story and complementing the flow of the very funny text. Grant is keenly attuned to this classic argument, and then twists it: When Pablo and his father arrive at the pool party, almost no one is wearing conventional pants. VERDICT A shaggy dog story that will engage readers old and young.--Elizabeth Willoughby, John P. Faber Sch., Dunellen, NJ
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A surprise awaits readers at the end of this book. Pablo is a rascal. Cared for by a reasonable and patient father who irons their clothing, cooks oatmeal for breakfast, and prepares food to take to a birthday party, Pablo will not obey orders and put on pants. More curious than naughty, Pablo asks why people wear pants, suggesting that they are not necessary. They look at photos of their family members hanging on walls to introduce types of pants worn for a variety of sports and careers before the father goes through a brief history featuring illustrated examples of pants through the decades (amusingly, his bespectacled, bearded face tops each one). Readers will note diversity among the family and friends enumerated, a variety that complements Pablo's own ruddy skin and presumed Latinx background. The book has too many funny plot twists to count, creating chuckles for young and old readers. Finally, Pablo's silly acts of resistance escalate to the loss of parental temper, and they must quickly reconcile with an act of obedience. But when they get to the party, there's not a pair of pants in sight. With a restrained palette and blocky figures rendered in a free-floating style, the illustrations offer subtext to the tight relationship between parent and child. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.1% of actual size.) A delightful duo in a picture book that will bring laughter to all. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
