Stinky Smelly Feet: A Love Story
PreSchool-Grade 3–Ducks Douglas and Dolores are smitten with one another. Unfortunately, every time Douglas removes his shoes for a gambol in the grass, a dip in the drink, or relief from a pesky pebble, everyone near him faints–"kerplunk!"–from the sheer nastiness of his smelly feet. Soaking, powdering, and perfuming have no effect on the fowl's foul digits. Even the disposal of all his stinky shoes and a change to flip-flops fail to solve the problem. Dolores sticks by her drake, though, and remains true to him, proving that if love is not blind, at least it is tolerant. Palatini's characteristic exaggeration and outrageousness are in full swing in this goofy tale. The dialogue and narration are done in a serious tone that contrasts winningly with the gross subject matter. Long's elastic cartoon illustrations sprawl across the pages in psychedelic shades. The sickly green and yellow miasma from Douglas's feet coils across pages and noses and knocks out nearby wildlife. Despite the lack of a clear solution at the end of the tale, kids who delight in subversive humor will welcome this noisome love story.–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.