  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—Young John Marco notices really amazing things in his daily life but unfortunately nobody in his big, bustling family wants to hear about them. He is rebuffed by his neighbor, Mr. Jordy, when he tries to tell him about the mind-blowing things he discovered digging in the mud. He next tries to chat with his mother about a very fat orange cat in the neighborhood but his mom is way too busy multitasking to give John Marco the attention he requires. In an unexpected twist, the little chap notices that a tree in his front yard is slowly falling down so he yells for all to come see it. At first, they don't believe him and then just like that, the tree comes crashing down. The book ends with that same orange cat telling the crowd that they should pay more attention; "Like John Marco does." Lemon's full-bleed digital illustrations are colorful and expansive and lend themselves to a storytime sharing. VERDICT This is a quirky tale that many little ones will relate to. An optional purchase.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 12/15/2019 Ivy and Bean author Barrows turns her sights to younger readers in her picture-book debut about an observant little boy trying to be heard. John Marco, brown-skinned and adorably missing a tooth, tries to share the amazing things he sees each day with the grown-ups he knows (older siblings, parents, a neighbor, etc.), but everyone is too busy to pay him any attention. This becomes a serious problem when he notices a tree beginning to fall in the front yard of his home. John dashes around trying to warn everyone, the increasingly large text reflecting the urgency in his voice, but to no avail. It’s not until the tree crashes down that they finally listen to the little boy. Lemon really zeroes in on how John sees and experiences the world, while packing in situational humor as well. This text is ripe for discussions with children who find themselves around busy adults and feel the need to ask questions and express themselves. An engaging, playful, and relatable story that is pertinent to today’s nonstop lifestyles. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. Loading...
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