  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2012 K-Gr 3—After Barnett and Rex introduce themselves, readers meet Chloe, the main character. The story progresses smoothly until Mac writes that a huge lion leapt out at Chloe, and Adam draws a dragon instead (he "just thought a dragon would be cooler"). A fight erupts over artistic vision, with the author firing the illustrator and having the lion swallow him whole. He then introduces a new artist who can "illustrate a brilliant story written by a true genius." The new illustrator does not work out as hoped, though, and nor do Mac's attempts to illustrate the book himself. Finally Chloe takes command and sets off on a fairy-tale-inspired quest to save the story and Adam. The illustrations are pitch-perfect: claymation for the author and illustrators and cartoon for the story characters, who act out their parts on a proscenium stage. The result is an elaborate prank on the picture-book genre, and it comes together in playful harmony. Chloe is an engaging youngster, sporting blue braids, owlish glasses, and a pith helmet. Children old enough to understand the constructs of a book will delight in the comedic deconstruction, and adults will enjoy the references to traditional tales, from King Arthur to Frankenstein.—Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 04/01/2012 The fourth wall is broken to bits in this meta-musing on the creation of a picture book. The fun begins with the author introducing himself and his illustrator (cast as fimo figurines) and their protagonist, Chloe, a blue-haired, bespectacled slip of a sketch with red cowboy boots and a Texas-shaped belt buckle. Chloe sets off on a three-dimensional stage to begin her story, but almost immediately author and illustrator experience creative differences. A replacement illustrator is hired, and fired, the author tries drawing his own pictures (not a good idea), and it finally falls to Chloe to save her day. Storytelling tropes abound, skewered one after another by Chloe’s infallible wherewithal, until she secures her just reward. As entertainment the story functions well, combining twisty plotting, irreverent dialogue, visual hilarity, and sophisticated book design into an arch package. But beneath the silly surface, children will find a meaningful exposition of just what goes into a successful picture book, and how author, illustrator, and character must collaborate and compromise. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Loading...
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