TEMPLE, Jol & Kate (text) Jon Foye (illus.) Mike I Don’t Like ABC, 2014 unpaged $19.99 ISBN 9780733333255 SCIS 1659406
This is another quirky book from the creators of Parrot Carrot and I Got This Hat. Mike is at that toddler stage that parents will relate to, where every suggestion is met with ‘I don’t like…’ The tongue-in-cheek humour is evident from the start with a message from Mike warning not to read the book. Opening with a conversation between Mike and the author the story continues with a long list of things Mike doesn’t like. The text is handwritten cursive with selected words underlined in larger print for impact, and the rollicking rhythm is fun to read aloud. Comic-like pictures add to the humour. The joke is on Mike at the end when the author delivers the dry punchline. Recommended for preschoolers (and their parents). Mike reviews his own book on Facebook (and writes a letter to his lawyers).
reviewed by Sharon Seymour