GEORGE UPSIDE DOWN

Bright primary colors and energetic design enliven this portrayal of a little boy, who, in typically perverse youngster fashion, likes to do everything upside down. That’s fine while he’s playing, but his parents wish he would sit right-side up in the car and at the dinner table. His teacher sends him to a tutor, the tutor sends him to the nurse, and the nurse sends him to the principal, who comes up with a creative solution: George is made to wait outside the principal’s office until his curiosity gets the better of him; when he finally peeks in, he sees his parents, teacher, nurse, tutor, and principal, all standing on their heads. Now that being upside down isn’t so much of a novelty, George turns his attention to a new project that gets him in a little less trouble: becoming Super George. McCarthy’s picture-book debut features riotous pictures of inverted George going about his daily activities (yo-yoing, eating dinner, etc.) with his feet in the air. One hilarious spread, from George’s point of view, shows feet that turn out to belong to his parents, teacher, etc., walking by while George is waiting for the principal. The flat, bold illustrations feature comically stylized people with exaggerated googly eyes; the simple facial expressions are marvelously apt at conveying George’s mischievousness and the adults’ worried censure. Beware teachers and parents: readers may be inspired to try some of George’s tricks themselves. (Picture book. 3-7)