Elephant, Stork, and Alligator spend the day at the pool in It’s Pooltime! Though it’s fun to hang out with friends, there are some inevitable mishaps along the way in this introductory graphic novel for young readers, including a towel mix-up, a lack of snacks, and a diving board competition.
Author and illustrator Ethan Long has created a fun summer story with a cast of cute, expressive characters. The book is comprised of three short story arcs starting with an introduction of size concepts with each of the animals picking up the wrong towel, then a lesson in sharing when the snack bar only has one ice cream cone, and ending with a humorous look at what happens when an elephant cannonballs into a pool.
The art adds to the summertime feel, with bright pastel colors, lots of playful lines, and a lovely screentone shading that gives a classic comic touch to this otherwise very modern book. As with the other books in the Balloon Toons line from Blue Apple, the production quality is very high with thick, matte pages and a sturdy binding. Especially suited for the youngest readers, this would make a refreshing summertime read on warm days.
It’s Pooltime!
by Ethan Long
ISBN: 9781609052010
Blue Apple Books, 2012
