cover image Zoola Palooza: A Book of Homographs

Zoola Palooza: A Book of Homographs

Gene Barretta. Holt, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8050-9107-6

Barretta (who wrote about homophones in Dear Deer) stages an introduction to homographs at an animals' outdoor concert. On one spread, a chameleon lounges over a bowl of fruit and veggies to grasp the microphone: "Carmen Chameleon's entrance will entrance you. She's the only singer we know who can produce a fresh bowl of produce and blend into it." Young readers should appreciate Barretta's ability to construct miniature story lines using the homographs, and while phrases sometimes hit clunky notes ("Fortunately, she wound up landing on the back of a jellyfish, wound-free"), they are well-served by his starry-eyed, crowd-surfing menagerie. Ages 5%E2%80%938. (June)