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WHO IS MELVIN BUBBLE? by Nick Bruel

WHO IS MELVIN BUBBLE?

by Nick Bruel & illustrated by Nick Bruel

Pub Date: Aug. 1st, 2006
ISBN: 1-59643-116-4
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Distant cousin to “The Blind Men and the Elephant,” this character portrait answers the title question through statements from a lad’s father and mother, his best friend, his teddy bear and closet monster, the tooth fairy and other associates. Young Melvin turns out to be fairly typical: “A chip off the old block!” according to his dad (the pictures tell a different story, though); in his mom’s view, “the messiest boy in the world” (possibly true from visual evidence); eminently huggable (Teddy); gifted with the ability to whistle a tune through his nose (best friend); and so on. Bright cartoon illustrations provide tongue-in-cheek commentary, as well as a sometimes-labeled inventory of Melvin’s world, possessions and accomplishments. He himself steps up at the end to deliver a self-aware, breezily positive summation. Young readers should find him familiar, and may be moved by his example to take similar stock of themselves. (Picture book. 6-8)