Yay, You! : Moving Up and Moving On
On the occasion of her son's graduation from high school, Sandra  Boynton, the well-loved creator of books and cards featuring hippos, dinosaurs,  and sheep, has written a celebratory book for "onwardly mobile" readers.  Everyone on the planet will compare this title to Dr. Seuss'sOh, the Places You'll Go, and  we will, too. Yes, they're both delightful, silly picture books with vaguely  unidentifiable critters as the emcees, rejoicing in the reader's recent  graduation or other success. Festive exclamation points abound, along with  rhyming, and alternating cheering and questioning ("Now what will you do?"). But  Sandra Boynton is Sandra Boynton, and Dr. Seuss is Dr. Seuss, and ne'er the  twain shall meet. Boynton's more contemporary text and illustrations feature a  cow doing yoga ("OOM") and a headphone-clad fellow listening to "great  rock-and-roll," among her other trademark characters flying away under balloons,  partaking of chocolate, and scrambling up mountains. A box on the first page  with "CONGRATULATIONS" across the top and "To" and "From" below make it  perfectly clear that this is a book for giving. Behind all the goofy faces and  simple rhymes is a very real, very sweet sentiment of pride and support that any  loving friend or family member will be glad to share with that special  successful person, young or old. Boynton's style can be recognized a mile away  in such classics asDinos to  Go,Hippos Go  Berserk!, andMoo, Baa,  La La La!. (All ages)--Emilie Coulter