DON'T STICK YOUR TOES IN YOUR NOSE

An irrepressible child gets into many messes in Shell’s picture book of sage instructions from a parent to a precocious youngster.

A Black toddler with natural hair and huge brown eyes stars in each two-page spread, which features instructions from an adult caregiving figure who only ever appears in part or from behind. After being urged to not put fingers in their mouth, the toddler promptly puts two slices of bread into their hair: “Leave your chair, wash your hair / and don’t scrub your head with the bread,” urges the adult. The youngster’s mischief continues as the child uses red sauce for handwashing, wipes eggs on their legs, and plays football and rollerblades in the house, among other things. In some cases, the parent is able to keep the child out of trouble (preventing them sticking a crayon in their ear, for example), but mostly, the fun is in seeing exactly how much mischief the child creates. Shell’s repeating rhymes invite young lap readers to chime in with their own instructions, and the ending rhyme, offering words of love about trying one’s best, may keep readers from feeling scolded. Goshay’s gorgeous full-color cartoon illustrations tell much of the story from gleeful chaos to cleanup.

An introduction to reasonable rules featuring repeating rhymes and an appealing main character.