Too Busy Marco
K-Gr 3–Marco the parrot is too busy for bedtime. Cartoon illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and ink show his human mother from the waist down and a talking alarm clock urging him away from his playthings. Thought bubbles depict his dreams of painting, scientific discoveries, skateboarding, and bowling. The images attempt to show that Marco has too many plans and no time for sleeping. However, cluttered with lines, objects, and color, the pages lack a focal point. Likewise, the story lacks development in plot or character. Adult fans of Chast's New Yorker cartoons may appreciate this loose artistic style, but most children will be better satisfied by Anna Dewdney's Llama, Llama Red Pajama (Viking, 2005), Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Little Hoot (Chronicle, 2008), Barney Saltzberg's Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Bed? (Candlewick, 2005), or Peggy Rathmann's 10 Minutes Till Bedtime (Putnam, 1998).Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MD© Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.