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| Publishers Weekly *starred review* Keller is once again guilty of transporting laughter across state lines in this follow-up to her hit The Scrambled States of America.Who knew that the 50 states were such a bunch of hams? She shows readers the backstage histrionics: California demands to talk to his agent when Georgia gets a bad case of stage fright, and Hawaii doesn't get the answer she seeks when she asks Kansas: “Does this grass skirt make my butte look big?” But the show must go on—and it does with every possible kind of act, from Minnesota the Magician (who seems to saw South Dakota in half) to the State Impersonators (Tennessee and Wyoming form Oklahoma and then ask, “What's up with this handle,anyway? I mean, what am I—a state or a frying pan?”). Some fans of the first book may argue that this one isn't as geographically clever—and they could be right. But the snappy dialogue flows effortlessly, the personalities are as winning as ever, and the pictures' energy never flags. It's e pluribus boffo! Ages 4–9. (Aug.) Kirkus reviews Ten years after their memorable debut thestates once again pop open their wide eyes, leap up on pipestem limbsand strut their stuff-this time on stage in a display of talent thatranges from the heartthrob singing of New York and New Mexico as 'NewStates On The Block' to Michigan using its Upper Peninsula in aventriloquist act and Wyoming linking with Tennessee to impersonateOklahoma. Rendering her performers with flashbulb intensity andreasonably accurate borders, Keller sends them gamboling with abandonacross spreads strewn with hilarious side comments (Idaho: 'Does thisgrass skirt make my BUTTE look big?'), as well as abbreviations andstatehood dates. Closing with a bit of traditional stagecraft by havingshy Georgia visualize fellow states in their underwear to get over acase of stage fright, this exuberant geographical jamboree willdefinitely leave readers in a state. (Picture book. 6-8) School Library Journal K-Gr 4—New York wakes up in the middle of the night and shouts, 'Hey, everyone—let's have a talent show!' The other states jump right in to prepare and perform their acts. Illustrations and layouts are similar to those in The Scrambled States of America Holt, 1998), with cartoon characters shaped like state maps dancing and prancing on stick legs and wisecracking all over the pages. There's plenty to giggle at: Texas trying to skate under Missouri's Gateway Arch, Pennsylvania playing a 'peppy tune' on the Liberty Bell, and California checking in with his agent. Because there are 50 characters, the action can become confusing. It's easy enough to figure out that the 'New States on the Block' boy band is made up of states that begin with the word 'new,' but not as clear why North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, West Virginia, and Louisiana are members of the Montanettes, a singing group with Vegas-style feathers. There are references to the previous book, so it's helpful to remember that Mississippi and Nevada have fallen in love. Where it is popular, this one will also have fans. It is clever, lightly educational, and hip, but with a slightly weaker premise, it is just a bit more…scrambled. —Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA Booklist The states on the map are snoozing one night until New York wakes up the others with a bright idea: a talent show! Throughout the day, the little state-shaped figures bustle about, organizing themselves into group and individual acts, crew, and director. There are glitches, of course, but these troupers carry on, from rehearsals right through to the postproduction party and chatter. The characters (resembling thin, state-shaped puzzle pieces with large faces and wiry limbs) generate their own kind of excitement in the colorful, dynamic illustrations, created with acrylic painting and digital collage. Even the endpapers bustle with excitement and wit: lists of the states with their statehood dates and their postal code abbreviations are featured, while in the margins, tiny characters make comments and crack jokes that are right on target for the book’s audience. This amusing geography-inspired picture book is a fine companion to The Scrambled States of America (1998). — Carolyn Phelan Bookends: Children's Books Newsday by Sonja Bolle THE SCRAMBLED STATES OF AMERICA TALENT SHOW, by Laurie Keller. Henry Holt, $16.95. Ages 6 and up. Ten years ago, the talented Laurie Keller sent the 50 states on a little vacation in the enduringly popular picture book "The Scrambled States of America." Now, she tells another hilarious geographical tale. "It all started quite simply," she writes. "In the middle of the night, New York woke up from a dream and shouted, 'Hey, everyone - let's have a talent show!'" S oon all the states, each with a distinct face and personality in Keller's cartoony illustrations, are in on the act. Readers quickly identify states by their shapes, which makes for a good game when Washington, D.C., takes the stage as host, and the states in the audience appear in the foreground in silhouette. There are geographical terms sprinkled punningly throughout. Hawaii - the Big Island surrounded by a swarm of smaller islands - tries on her costume and asks: "Does the grass skirt make my butte look big?" As with all of Keller's work, the multifarious jokes and asides make the books suitable for a wide range of ages; not all kids will understand every joke, but everyone will find something amusing. In the talent show, " Iowa's corny jokes and Wisconsin's cheesy sculptures got the crowd laughing," while Colorado, wearing Florida upside down on his head to impersonate Idaho, does a whole riff on potatoes. (Idaho, giggling in the audience, admits: "I DO love potatoes!") The shy state of Georgia learns the key trick for overcoming stage fright: Imagine the audience in their underwear. This makes for a humorous last page. What kind of underwear do you imagine Missouri wears? The Columbus Dispatch By NANCY GILSON It's been 10 years, but the scrambled states of America are back.In a reprise to her popular picture book from 1998, Laurie Keller gives the wacky states something to do: The Scrambled States of America Talent Show (Henry Holt, $16.95,40 pages, ages 9 to 12). "It all started quite simply. . . . In the middle of the night, New York woke up from a dream and shouted, 'Hey everyone -- let's have a talent show!' " So begins Keller's silly but still informative comedy that has all 50 states participating in a vaudeville-style show: Michigan performs a ventriloquist act with the Upper Peninsula serving as his dummy. Ohio sings a solo while Delaware loses control of his pogo stick and careens off the Buckeye State's head. "Does this grass skirt make my BUTTE look big?" asks little Hawaii. Georgia, feeling ill, undergoes an examination --including X-rays of her counties and cities -- before the doctor pronounces her ailment as stage fright. Amid the mayhem, Keller manages to insert a little information about the states, but her main purpose is fun. Young readers will enjoy themselves so much they might not notice how familiar they're becoming with the names and locations of those 50 states. Worcester Telegram & Gazette News By Nicholas A. Basbanes Geography has never been this much fun, as Laurie Keller takes her cast of 50scrambled states and puts them on stage for a spirited talent show. Imagine Alaska, the largest state, and Rhode Island, the smallest, appearing in the same act as a duo. To ease a case of stage fright, Georgia has an X-ray that offers a close look at her cities and counties. Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has a grand time ringing the Liberty Bell, while Florida puts on a great act of juggling oranges. “The show was such a success,” we are told, “that Washington, D. C., invited everyone onstage for a celebration!” Keller gets an A for this nice follow-up to “The Scrambled States of America.” The Florida Times-Union Book's sequel doesn't quite match up to original By BRANDY HILBOLDT ALLPORT It is time for a revue. Take your seat. Adjust the lights, and open The Scrambled States of America Talent Show. The book uses subtle wit, knock-knock joke-caliber humor and vivid illustrations to teach a lesson. Author Laurie Keller plunges readers into the situation on Page 3 where we see a U.S. map depicting all 50 states in some state between drowsiness and slumber. Below it are the words: It all started quite simply, really. In the middle of the night, New York woke up from a dream and shouted, Hey Everyone- Lets Have a Talent Show! And just like that, there we are, watching as the map comes to life. Some preferred to use their talents behind the scenes. Indiana was the director, Arizona was the costume designer and a number of states worked as stagehands, setting up the stage, lights, sounds and props. The anthropomorphized states go about their show-biz business, and readers assume the states will perform a dance and end up in their proper places. Washington in the top left-hand corner of the page. Maine all the way at the upper right, and Texas anchoring everything from its bottom, middle position. Makes sense, huh? Surely the book is a sort of nontraditional geography lesson, right? Nope. It's a story about the states staging a talent show. Plot tension stems from Georgia's case of stage fright. She is the weak link in the Jolly Jugglers troupe, which includes California, Idaho and Massachusetts. During rehearsal, Georgia shakes so much she drops everything. After consulting with Dr. Globe, Georgia promises to heed his tried-and-true advice. When the curtain rises, she will imagine the audience in its underwear. The talent show begins, and Minnesota the Magnificent wows the crowd by sawing South Dakota in half. Iowa delivers some corny jokes. (Groan.) Wisconsin's cheesy sculptures kept the crowd laughing. (Groan again.) Rhode Island recites state abbreviations while balancing Alaska overhead, strongman-style. And Georgia? Georgia is in the wings sweating and shivering. Not to worry. The story winds its way to a happy ending, with Georgia doing a lot more than overcoming her stage fright. That is it. The final pages do show the states in their proper places, chatting about the success of their big night. Just because Talent Show does not follow the predictable route for teaching geography does not mean it is a failure. Books that take an unexpected turn provide a special kind of delight, but Talent Show's disjointed narrative just does not work. Messages about friendship and giving your best effort are lost amid the chaotic layouts or buried in the many asides presented as comic strip-style dialogue for the illustrations. Granted, the asides are clever, and the potential for using this book as a starting point for a geography lesson or a fun facts review about the states is obvious for fifth- or sixth-graders. But the 4- to 9-year-old audience at which this book is aimed will not appreciate the wit. For example, on one of the pages, California says, Yeah Marty. It's California. Listen, you never told me about the underwear shot. Laurie Keller released The Scrambled States of America 10 years ago, and the fun, award-winning book remains a staple in schools, at home and on the storytime circuit. In the first book, the states take on personalities, too. Kansas wakes up one morning and declares to Nebraska that All day long we just sit here in the middle of the country. We never go anywhere. We never do anything, and we never meet any new states! Soon the states are changing places with funny results. The Minnesota-Florida switch involves a bad case of sunburn. The Great Lakes are thoroughly confused. . . . where did Michigan go? Even with the musical chairs activity, the plot is much easier to follow than Talent Show, and the jokes are suited for the younger set. To see Keller at her zany best, skip Talent Show and reread the original Scrambled States. The Register-Guard Geography has never been this much fun, as Laurie Keller takes her cast of 50 scrambled states and puts them on stage for a spirited talent show.Imagine Alaska, the largest state, and Rhode Island, the smallest, appearing in the same act as a duo. To ease a case of stage fright, Georgia has an X-ray that offers a close look at her cities and counties. Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has a grand time ringing the Liberty Bell, while Florida puts on a great act of juggling oranges.ÒThe show was such a success,Ó we are told, Òthat Washington, D.C., invited everyone onstage for a celebration!Ó Keller gets an A for this nice follow-up to The Scrambled States of America." Read These Interviews: An Interview with Laurie Keller Publisher's Weekly Article Blogs http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/2008/08/scrambled-states-of-america-talent-show.html http://parenting.ivillage.com/familyentertainment_csm/books/0,,djn26zdx,00.html http://100scopenotes.wordpress.com/ |
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