The star of Faster! Faster! and Higher! Higher! dons a construction hat for another soaring (and slightly interrupted) exercise in imagination. A box of blocks. A budding builder. Should she build a doghouse? A bridge? A skyscraper? Yes, all of these and more! Bigger, bigger! BIGGEST! But then . . . Boom! Boom! What’s that? Uh-oh . . . After one little girl’s architectural masterpieces grow exponentially, the arrival of an assistant presents a bit of a challenge in this ode to creativity masterfully constructed by Leslie Patricelli.
Leslie Patricelli is the author-illustrator of
Potty, Huggy Kissy, and many more best-selling board books for young children starring a beloved bald baby. She is also the author-illustrator of the picture books
Faster! Faster! and
Higher! Higher!, a
Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book, and her first chapter book,
The Rizzlerunk Club: Best Buds Under Frogs. She lives in Idaho.
Readers may see that the baby bears a striking resemblance to the tot featured in Patricelli's board book series, and they will doubtlessly realize that here the baby is the girl's little sibling, wreaking havoc on her block play. The story shifts back to reality as baby tries to make amends and the big sister generously welcomes collaborative play...Hooray! Hooray! Again! Again!
—Kirkus Reviews
There’s a lot to admire here, from the vivid re-creation of the child’s imaginative play to her self-possession in taking on her new role: big sister. The pithy text builds in intensity until the crash, followed by two wordless spreads and the final one: “Stronger! Stronger!” Bold, black lines define the images in the sturdy, expressive acrylic paintings. A worthy sequel to Higher! Higher! (2009) and Faster! Faster! (2012).
—Booklist Online
Thickly outlined figures and gleaming colors work well for group sharing, and hints of canvas that bleeds through the acrylic paints add texture and dimension. This celebrates the pleasures of playing alone and together, of indulging imagination and reveling in reality—worthwhile activity at day care, at preschool, or at home.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The minimal text, bright color palette, and textured acrylic paintings with thick black outlines create a book appropriate for sharing both one-on-one and with groups.
—The Horn Book
