Line and Scribble

May 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 A line and a scribble face off in this creative battle of drawing styles, � la Harold and the Purple Crayon and Linus the Little Yellow Pencil (2019), by Scott Magoon. Simple illustrations--straight or curved black lines with red accents--are set against white pages, helping readers focus on the easy-to-follow story line. After a few introductory pages that show Line creating a straight road and train tracks, and Scribble looping around as a cloud and the meandering trails of butterflies, the story's tone takes a competitive turn. "Hey, Scribble! Look at how straight my fur is!" says Line of its cat. "Hey, Line! Look at how fluffy mine is!" comes Scribble's reply after amassing some swirls. The rivalry quickly escalates to form a massive storm that finally gives way to clear skies and compromise. Higher-order vocabulary (elegantly, tightrope, cyclone) and references to familiar images make this a book early childhood teachers will welcome into their classroom. Excellent for lessons in creativity and encouraging children's awareness of the world around them.

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July 1, 2021

K-Gr 2-A pair of opposites cooperatively coexist in this engaging picture book. Line is straight, while Scribble is not. Line travels straight via plane or train, whereas Scribble wanders; Line enjoys "elegantly" straight hair, while Scribble styles hers with bouncing curls. The pair initially express themselves and create independently before establishing a cheerful dialogue. As the story progresses, readers will enjoy seeing Line and Scribble join forces to create fresh and inventive things together. With only a sentence or two per spread, this is an ideal choice to read aloud and will certainly spark the imaginations and creativity of listeners and readers. The limited palette includes only the white of the paper, lines and scribbles in black, and vibrant red text, which delightfully increases in size as the story progresses. VERDICT A delightful celebration of individuality, creativity, and friendship; a valuable addition to most collections.-Olivia Gorecke, Cape May Cty. Lib., Ocean View, NJ

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2021
This story is a celebration of that which makes us different. Line likes to live the straight and narrow life and excels at drawing the neat and orderly. Train tracks and power lines are all in Line's wheelhouse. Scribble, on the other hand, prefers a little more chaos and shines at all things squiggly. The two show off their skills in page after page of neat and not-so-neat illustrations. When Line draws a cat with perfectly straight whiskers and fur, Scribble follows up with the fluffiest feline you can imagine. Line draws a person with long, stick-straight hair, and Scribble shows us a face with curls upon curls towering high above. The illustrations, done with only a red crayon and fountain pen, are simple yet creative, with the white background of each page creating a stage where our protagonists perform their talents. The text is straightforward and playful, with just a line or two per page describing what the characters have designed. Eventually, our friends team up to create a dramatic storm for all to enjoy. Though the two have different tastes, there isn't a competitive feel; rather, each is impressed, throughout, with what the other can do. Hill Saxton

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from April 1, 2021
Can opposites coexist? This picture book presents its refreshing take. Line is straight, Scribble is not. Line makes straight drops of rain; Scribble makes lightning and whirlwinds. Line has elegantly straight fur, Scribble is fluffy. They spar (in a friendly way) back and forth, each presenting its own take on things. Line "tightens the electrical wires," and then Scribble "bursts into fireworks." Line "draws with a ruler" while Scribble "zigzags" and "dreams." And eventually, in this inventive story, readers begin to realize how Line and Scribble complement, enrich, and ultimately define each other. Author Vogrig's taut, spare narrative leaves ample space for readers to see their own personalities in the story while Valentinis' illustrations of simple black lines accented with details of red on rich white paper do a superb job of presenting just enough and not too much, encouraging the engagement of readers' imaginations. The clean sans-serif typeface is also red, visually tying the book's design together. As the tension of the story escalates, the font size increases--a highly effective (and fun to read aloud) design aspect. Beyond enjoying the straightforward accomplishments of Line and the spontaneous creativity of Scribble, readers may arrive at a deeper understanding of their own unique qualities and how difference contributes to the richness and variety of friendships and diversity. Lovely to look at; profound to ponder. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2021
This story is a celebration of that which makes us different. Line likes to live the straight and narrow life and excels at drawing the neat and orderly. Train tracks and power lines are all in Line's wheelhouse. Scribble, on the other hand, prefers a little more chaos and shines at all things squiggly. The two show off their skills in page after page of neat and not-so-neat illustrations. When Line draws a cat with perfectly straight whiskers and fur, Scribble follows up with the fluffiest feline you can imagine. Line draws a person with long, stick-straight hair, and Scribble shows us a face with curls upon curls towering high above. The illustrations, done with only a red crayon and fountain pen, are simple yet creative, with the white background of each page creating a stage where our protagonists perform their talents. The text is straightforward and playful, with just a line or two per page describing what the characters have designed. Eventually, our friends team up to create a dramatic storm for all to enjoy. Though the two have different tastes, there isn't a competitive feel; rather, each is impressed, throughout, with what the other can do.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)