No Problem

Mouse's present from Rat contains so many pieces that Mouse and his friends puzzle over which construction they build is the right one, in a tale that includes a seven-piece kit for readers to make their own crazy machine.

PreSchool-Grade 3-- A slight, amusing story that pokes fun at know-it-alls everywhere. Mouse receives an enormous package for her birthday from her friend Rat. It's a construction kit with a note that reads: "Put together the things you see/ Then climb aboard and visit me." " 'No problem' " says Mouse, but her confidence soon wanes when she builds a silly, very wobbly contraption. Her friends Badger and Otter offer their help, but in each case, of course, they botch the job. Then little Shrew decides to read the directions--novel idea--and they all fly together in the newly constructed airplane to Rat's house for a party. While the text is lively, the book's appeal is in the visual humor expressed in the energetic pen and watercolor illustrations. The page designs are attractive, and range from large double-page spreads to small, framed vignettes showing the sequence of construction efforts. And the vehicles themselves, with their odd assortments of wheels, cogs, and gears are ingenious and will fascinate those interested in machinery. The jacket advertises "Free construction kit inside," and includes paper airplane parts printed on the flaps. Emphasizing the droll rather than the didactic, No Problem is an additional purchase. --Linda Wicher, Highland Park Public Library, IL
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A motto observed in a researcher's lab--``When all else fails, read the directions''--sums up this tale of a mouse who's sent a ``construction kit'' by her friend Rat and assembles a wheeled vehicle (she calls it a ``Biker-Riker'') that does run- -but with an excess of unwanted ``wheelies.'' Reorganizing the parts, Badger comes up with ``Jaloppy-Doppy,'' different but no better--as is Otter's ``Boater-Roater.'' Shrew, however, finds the instructions, lays the parts out neatly, and puts together an airplane that flies them smoothly to Rat's for a birthday party. The lively, well-drawn animals (all female) and intricate contraptions are fun, though more might have been done with using identical components in the different configurations (cf. Tryon's Albert's Alphabet). Still, entertaining. Seven-piece construction kit of the airplane (with instructions) included on jacket flap extensions. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.