NATE'S NOISY NOSE

A young boy who can’t help making loud noises with his nose tries to fit in with the rest of the world in Mackay’s picture book.

Nate, an upbeat and energetic kid with spiky red hair and fair skin, has an unusual nose. Though it looks ordinary, it contains a snot-covered array of tiny musical instruments that emit loud, outrageous sounds whenever he breathes. This first appears to be a gift—it makes his friends laugh and affords him a rare individuality—but it turns out to be an affliction. Nate’s family, though tolerant, are driven to despair; so, too, are his teachers and classmates. Soon, Nate is banned from going out in public. Doctors and scientists puzzle over his condition, but no one can help. Eventually, when trying out the “NOISY NOSE MACHINE” of a famous oddball inventor, Nate sneezes out his snotty schnoz orchestra…whereupon his red-haired dog Rascal scarfs it down and inherits the condition. Colvin’s illustrations are busy and boisterous, drawn in a cartoon style with plenty of space afforded to the colorful sounds of “WAH! WAH! OOM-PAH-PAH!” and “TOOT TOOT! RING! RING!” emanating from Nate’s noisy nose. Nate and Rascal display strong, class-clown personalities, dampened over time by the disapprobation of those around them (a racially diverse cast of characters). While Nate’s story may serve as a lesson in how to cope with being singled out, mostly it is fun for fun’s sake.

A riotous romp that should play to the amusement of younger readers.