Look What We Can Do!: A Competition! (Archie & Reddie #3)

PreS-Gr 2--Archie and Freddie, two talented foxes with boundless energy, stuff their talent show act to the brim. First prize is a wagon, with which they could lug their heavy stacks of library books around. Starting with their friendship dance, they add multiple skills into one super-sized performance of skating, music, juggling, balancing, singing, and jokes that stretches them to the absolute limit. Neither friend is put upon; their collaborations are mutual, through and through. The ending reinforces the message that there's no shame in doing what you do best. Textured yellow backgrounds and thick lines fill the couple of panels per page with bright, smiling figures. The foxes' silly actions and infectious enthusiasm make for a tale that begs to be read and acted out loud. VERDICT Whether or not kids are familiar with the series, they'll find this an easy reader full of escalating talents and smiles between two can-do foxes.

Two friends with enjoyable chemistry populating well-paced panels that propel the physical comedy. Make room for this cute pair on the graphic early reader shelf.

Tightly framed drawings offer plenty of perky graphic pop, and the characters have an eager-eyed expressiveness, snappy dialogue, and bouncy physicality that will pull new readers along.