Abrams Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you). It's been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.
One of the things that caught my eye about this book was the beautiful illustrations. They are very colorful and quite whimsical. They bring the story to life. Then I noticed the author/illustrator had taken classes from Edward Gorey. His drawings tended to be dark and dreary, but you can see a touch of the influence of style in these illustrations, which are much brighter and joyful.
Sam helps his grandfather cook a snack at night. He's not allowed to cook but when grandfather can't see well and asks for help, what can he do? Mom tells him he's a bad boy and takes him back to bed. When he explains, she tells him he's a good boy and they'll both clean up the kitchen in morning. This one of the four stories in this book.
There are a lot bads and just a few goods in these tales. I think they are to demonstrate a point, but I hope you never emphasize "bad" that much. Children respond much better to praise and parents should know the whole story before they make judgements.
Sam is a creative free spirit and that causes him problems everywhere. But he's a good kid who cares about those around him, so how can you not like him?
Looking at those illustrations again, I think they also remind me of Mercer Mayer's style. Why don't you get a copy of the book and see what you think?
Happy reading.
