IN MY WORLD

A narrator describes the silliness and absurdity of his imagined world in this picture-book debut from Aardema (the grandson of notable author Verna Aardema), with illustrations by Ciaccio.

Only in the world of imagination can there be mooing puppies, blue cows, egg-laying rhinos, and fish and snakes with legs, but Aardema introduces all of these absurdities in the first two pages. Kids are sure to giggle their way through the rhymes and phenomenal images, which show silly animals making strange sounds and wearing odd hues, as well as other natural-world features that play against the norm. Even the narrator admits, “It makes no sense whatsoever!” Although a diversion into incorrect math (“2 plus 2 is sometimes five”) may discourage parents trying to instill good addition practices, children will likely to be able to correct the “mistakes” themselves. On the final pages, flying children view the amazing world below them. While there’s no plot here, Aardema’s rhymes scan well, and children will delight in the mismatched noises, colors, and patterns. Ciaccio’s animals display startling personality while keeping close to their proper shapes. The bold chromatic choices are eye-catching, and the details will keep readers engaged.

Ciaccio’s gorgeously colored illustrations match Aardema’s whimsical fancy.