"Caldecott Honoree Tabor has once again found a subject that aligns well with his love of flipped formats. Pink, plump, and whimsically whiskered, Ursula lives in a wonderful worldsignature-style illustrations depict a blissful underwater environment in sun-streaked, translucent aquatic tones.Offering a funny reminder that perspective need not be isolating." Publishers Weekly Praise for SIMON AND THE BETTER BONE: "The illustrations are so warm and scribbly one can almost feel the yarn and fluff of this dog. The moral here is that our reflections contain not only what we possess, but also what we have lost and what we have given in an act of kindness away." New York Times "Giving readers a front-row seat to a comical encounter based on Aesops The Dog and His Reflection, Tabor once again takes a picture books physical form into account, asking readers to open it vertically.Digitally assembled pencil, colored pencil, and acrylic art, which combines textures scribbly and velvety, chronicles Simons unsuccessful attempts to best his scrawny little rival with a series of challenges and a polite warning.Is Simon a silly dog? Of courseand a real sweetheart, too." Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Young listeners will explode into giggles as they recognize Simons toddlerlike mistakes, all the while appreciating his good (and not-so-good) intentions. Tabors smudgy illustrations depict Simon with warmth and humor in a gentle park setting... the author/illustrator also deftly folds in a joke-filled lesson about sharing and friendship. Kids will fall in love with this enticing introduction to Aesopand with Simon.A charming, clever, and feel-good version of a classic fable." Kirkus Reviews(starred review) "This book's unique orientation cleverly uses the gutter in the vertical double-page spreads to show Simon and his reflection. Tabor effectively uses simple lines and curves to show Simon's dynamic emotions and movements. The pastel color palette complements the gentle tone, while the exuberant scribbles in colored pencil and joyful dabs of acrylic paint underscore the childlike spirit of the story. This is sure to be a storytime favorite." Booklist "Tabor updates Aesops Fable The Dog and His Reflection with a little more goofiness and a bit less pedantry, and the clever unfolding layout of pages to reveal Simons reflection immediately brings kids in on the joke, ensuring storytime engagement. Smudgy, dappled textures in pastoral hues make a cheerful background for shaggy brown Simon whose expressive tail and ears effortlessly convey his joy, frustration, and glee." Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books "Tabors book once again makes smart use of vertical orientation to enhance this story. The preschoolers at whom this playful story is aimed will delight in being one up on the main character. Friendly pastel-hued illustrations with white space and loose, energetic lines capture the abundant vigor of a young pup. The egocentric stage of a childs development has never been so expertly (and adorably) depicted." The Horn Book Praise for MEL FELL: The mixed media drawings, alive with wonderful textures and soft colors, show Mel executing an impressive aerial somersault before blithely hurtling headfirst in parallel with the tree trunk as inhabitants below are thrown into comic panic, convinced that Mels dive-bombing will result in disaster.Hope may be the thing with feathers, but Mel proves that gutsy can be, too. Publishers Weekly (starred review) Young people, who find themselves on the precipice of new activities, routines, schools, and challenges so frequently, will savor this little kingfishers success and perhaps feel they can right themselves the next time they fall into a downward spiral.Encourages children to feel brave, to try, and to believe they can soar. Kirkus Reviews(starred review) Theres a good deal of humor in this lighthearted story; a slug keeps promising to help but never makes it far, and a fly is liberated (Im free!) from the spiders web when Mel falls through it. Tabors relaxed, loose-lined illustrations capture the energy of the fall as well as Mels endearing, determined personality. Horn Book (starred review) Tabors luminous mixed-media landscapes in a pastel palette meld beautifully with the increasingly emphatic text to convey Ursulas emotional journey. Tabor gently reframes questions of perspective. . . . This clever and heartfelt picture book will wow at storytimes. Booklist (starred review) Ursula is a happy pink catfish who enjoys her life eating bugs, only to be asked one day why she swims upside down. . . . This query causes her to doubt her viewpoint, and if she might be in the wrong. . .. And with. . . the now much-anticipated Tabor turn. . . readers are instructed to flip the book upside down.. . Tabors mixed-media illustrations bring levity to the books more serious message, and the book-flipping and page-turns give readers a tactile, sensory experience of changing perspective. Horn Book Magazine
