HAIRY AND SCARY!

The quartet introduced in Thomas’ Rhyming Dust Bunnies (2009) make a riotous return.

Giddy Ned, Ed, and Ted announce that they love to rhyme; subdued Bob’s the odd one out (“Well, actually, I don’t rhyme”). When they encounter an electric fan, Ned, Ed, and Ted are quick to supply rhymes (“tan,” “can”), but Bob responds with a nervous “Oh no.” It’s an appropriate response—the fan blows the dust bunnies high into the air. “What rhymes with high?” “Bye.” “Tie.” “Sky.” Once more, Bob’s seemingly out-of-sync reply (“web”) is spot-on; the foursome land in a spider’s web. While the others ponder rhymes for stuck, Bob screams, “THERE’S PROBABLY SOMETHING HAIRY AND SCARY AROUND HERE.” Ned, Ed, and Ted remain oblivious as Bob implores them to look up; readers will notice eight fuzzy legs and a sliver of a body descending. A frowning snaggle-tooth spider appears at last, but the arachnid actually offers them an assist (the spider’s “hairy” but not “scary”—and named Larry!). Use of a bold, clear typeface, with the rhyming words in bright red, encourages beginning readers’ word recognition. Thomas builds suspense effectively, and her simple, thick-lined depictions of her big-nosed, buck-toothed, fuzzy characters, set against colorful but minimalist backdrops, steal the show. Alert readers will feel superior to the ditzy dusties and will enjoy adding their own rhymes.

Ridiculous fun for a new generation of rhymers.