MR.SCRIMPY GETS HIS SOCKS IN THE HAMPER

This debut illustrated children’s book sees a shrimp address her husband’s inability to put dirty clothes in the laundry hamper.

Mr. and Mrs. Scrimpy are a pair of happily married shrimps. They live in an underwater cave, and from Mrs. Scrimpy’s perspective, they are perfectly content, save for Mr. Scrimpy’s snoring (an endearing trait over which he has no control) and his vexing habit of throwing dirty clothes near—but never actually in—the laundry hamper: “Within inches, those socks will come / Maybe a miss? To be so near! / But how can you explain it... / Day after day / And year after YEAR?!” At her wit’s end, Mrs. Scrimpy fantasizes about the ways she might condition Mr. Scrimpy to correct his behavior, or, failing that, how she might redesign the house and laundry hamper to guarantee success. After some serene reflection, she decides instead to talk to him about the issue, acknowledging his hardworking, helpful qualities but imploring him to consider the situation from her viewpoint. Waldhorn adopts a put-upon but good-natured voice for Mrs. Scrimpy, airing a genuine grievance through lighthearted rhyming narration—albeit one whose lack of consistent meter makes the search for end rhymes seem awkward: “I’ve seen him shoot three-pointers! / He’s even hit a hole in one! / He’s constructed an entire ship in a bottle. / Could he be missing the hamper for fun?” As for the subject matter, the story seems aimed at adults—particularly at long-married couples who have fallen into bad habits—but its pictures will appeal to children (and thus hopefully inoculate them against relationship troubles later in life). The author’s pen-and-ink-style digital illustrations have a colorful simplicity that makes the most of heavy outlines and crosshatched textures. Though nominally set underwater, the scenes are foreground-focused against plain, white backdrops. The Scrimpys are remarkably expressive given the intrinsic limitations of shrimp physiognomy. All told, this book should appeal to readers of all ages, particularly when different generations explore its content together. This enjoyable work is the first in a series of domestic (mis)adventures, which so far includes Mr. Scrimpy FINALLY Makes the Plans (2023).

An engaging, upbeat tale of bliss, exasperation, tolerance, and reform in married life.