I SAY OOH YOU SAY AAH

Interactive picture books have rarely been so goofy (or so full of underpants).

The first instruction on Page 1: “When I say / OOH / you say / AAH / as loudly as you can.” The second instruction is to pat your head if you see red, and the third is to shout “UNDERPANTS” if you see an ant. After a couple of pages of ants and an admonishment to avoid such rudeness, the narrator introduces a donkey named OOH. The loud “AAH” that surely results (because you are following instructions) scares OOH away. When he returns there is an ant on his nose, but the narrator can’t identify it and asks what it is. The response (you’re still following the rules) elicits a dubious “Donkeys don’t wear UNDERPANTS.” OOH returns, and he looks sad; he’s lost something…what could it be? Ants on the next couple of pages will have readers insisting it is underpants. When OOH finds some pink, frilly undies, if readers follow the next instruction (say your name if you see a cloud), they will find themselves claiming those undies as a large, white cloud dominates the next, wordless spread. Kane’s invitation to silliness will, with a willing audience, lead to loads of laughter (and some pretty loud storytimes). The bright, simple, digitally created illustrations alternate with pages of plain text instructions (much of it in all-caps) to complete the package.

A cockeyed call and response that can’t be read just once.