Joe and Sparky, Superstars!: Candlewick Sparks
Gr 1-2-Sparky the turtle is having a hard time. He wants to help his friend Joe the giraffe win the Talented Pairs contest hosted by television personality Grant Wish, but ever since he left the comfort and safety of his warm rock, he has failed at every activity he's tried. He can't learn comedy from a monkey or a Hokey Pokey dance routine from his best friend. Lessons in balancing are unsuccessful; practice ends with a tumble. Exhausted after trying to win a race against an ostrich, Sparky says, "I cannot be Sparky the Star. Just for you, Joe, I have tried. But we will never be a talented pair." Joe will not give up though. As they walk back to their home at the Safari Land cageless zoo, they discover a talent they share involving shadows. They may not end up on television, but when they perform, it's to an appreciative audience. Summer scenes rendered in watercolor and prismacolor pencil appear on every page of this easy reader. Each of the four short chapters is episodic and contains humorous dialogue. The font is large and at times changes in appearance to reflect emotion and sound. Michalak and Remkiewicz have written another enjoyable book about two friends who bring out the best in each other.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.