Arlo's ARTrageous Adventure!: 50 Flaps to Flip
A determined, white-haired lady hauls young Arlo out of his baseball-themed bedroom and off to the art museum, though he is clearly reluctant to go. But as she leads him through the galleries, lecturing about museum manners and art appreciation, Arlo begins to notice unexpected elements in the paintings and sculptures. These surprises are revealed by the viewer, who lifts the flaps over certain artworks to show what’s beneath. A Mondrian-like geometric painting morphs into a tic-tac-toe board with a monkey playing the game. A placid seascape changes when a shark lunges from the water and past the frame toward Arlo. Leaving the museum, the now-cheerful boy is even optimistic about good times at the opera (surprise!), tomorrow’s cultural expedition. Written entirely in speech-balloon dialogue, the text works well as a framework for the sometimes surprising, sometimes amusing visual reveals in the stylized, cartoonlike ink-and-wash illustrations. With 50 flaps to lift, there’s plenty of room for interactive play and discussion. Fun for sharing one on one. Preschool-Grade 2. --Carolyn Phelan