The Great Bunk Bed Battle

Starred review from September 1, 2020
Two fox kits aren't ready for bed yet in this early reader by a Geisel Medal honoree. Gray fox Fritz and red fox Franny are enthusiastic playmates: eager to build, to explore--and to avoid bedtime. Their story is divided into three parts, and while each could be read alone, they flow well as one narrative. In "Ready for Bed," Fritz and Franny rambunctiously prepare for bedtime ("I can brush my teeth faster than you!" Franny boasts as water, toothpaste, and foam spill everywhere) and have a "good-night dance party" despite their caregivers' best efforts to settle them down. In "My Bunk Is Better," Fritz and Franny compare and contrast their top and bottom bunk beds while pretending the furniture is a treehouse and cave, a ship, a submarine, and so on. In "Let's Trade?" the duo swap beds as each tries to prove that their respective bunk is better. K�gler seamlessly weaves repeated words and phrases into the story, so as readers enjoy Fritz and Franny's antics, they will expand their vocabularies and build reading confidence without feeling as though they are practicing. K�gler expertly uses character-associated colors and a vertical page layout to foster visual literacy and provide visual clues for readers. The majority of the text is in speech balloons. A rollicking romp for new readers. (Graphic early reader. 4-6)

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January 1, 2021
In this lighthearted and lively early reader series, anthropomorphized Fox siblings Fritz and Franny's everyday experiences are depicted with imagination and playfulness. In Roller Coaster, the kids visit a (pinecone-themed) amusement park in search of the perfect ride. When they line up for "The Big One" -- a huge looping coaster -- their fears get the best of them, but they ultimately find a just-right amusement (for themselves and pet dog Fred). Bunk Bed finds the kids arguing at bedtime over which bunk is best before opting to snuggle together -- in Fred's bed. In each title, the events of three short chapters come together to make one cohesive story arc. Straightforward and usefully repetitive dialogue is presented via speech balloons that have plenty of white space and color-coded outlines for each character. Prepositions and opposites (over and under, above and below) scaffold beginning readers' understanding of new words, and keep the books moving at a zippy pace. Vibrant-hued illustrations with thick black outlines complement the mood of the humorous tales. Back matter includes instructions from Kugler on how to draw one of the characters and a "What's Your Story?" comprehension and activities section.

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