TATO THE UNWANTED

In Kelnberger’s picture book, potato folk decide to adopt a “tater” dog.

The author’s second Tater Whimsy book is set in the town of Russetville, where the inhabitants (the Taters) are golden brown and come in round, cylindrical, and rectangular potato shapes. Tot and Hashy-R (who seems to be the younger of the two) visit the Russetville animal shelter, and Hashy-R chooses Tato, one of the dogs (also a tater tot) to bring home to spend the day. Tot isn’t so sure about Tato, and when the dog can’t seem to stay out of trouble, Tot responds with “Bad dog!” after every act of mischief. Tot is ready to take Tato back to the shelter—until he realizes that Tato is actually a “Good dog” who just loves having fun and who will be a great playmate for Hashy-R. The message of acceptance is clear, and though there seems to be no particular reason for the characters to be tater tot–based, children familiar with the fried finger-food may enjoy the potato-flavored whimsy, heightened by the bold colors and basic shapes in Kelnberger’s full-page, digital illustrations. Set against backgrounds in saturated shades of blues, greens, and yellows, the buildings and interiors feature geometric shapes, and the Taters express themselves with stick arms and basic facial features superimposed upon their potato shapes as black lines and inky dots.

A mild, whimsical story with visual appeal and a simple message of kindness and understanding.