Better Than You

August 15, 2011

This is a message book, and it makes no bones about it.

It lifts off with a foreword from a nationally recognized educator railing against the problem of arrogance in today's youth and concludes with an author's note about bragging and boasting, supplemented with a list of possible discussion questions. Nestled between is the rather bald story of Tyler, your everyday grade-school kid, and Jake, who poisons the air with his braggadocio. "My neighbor Jake can be a real jerk—always letting me know that whatever I do, he can do better." That might be sports or math or having the most cutting-edge stuff, like a Tunage 300 instead of Tyler's cruddy SoundLaunch. The saving grace of this tale is Uncle Kevin, who joins Tyler in a little guitar pickin' and counsels him on blowhards: "It's a way of protecting themselves from potential enemies. But when a kid acts like a pufferfish, he takes up so much space that he can also push away friends." Uncle Kevin making like a pufferfish is a highlight, as is Gustavson's artwork in general, with its lush application of paint, summertime languor and emotive breath.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

November 1, 2011

Gr 1-3-Focusing on a subject not often written about for children, Ludwig's story may be helpful to youngsters dealing with braggarts. Tyler and Jake are friends, but lately Jake boasts that he can do everything better than Tyler. Tyler doesn't feel good about himself when he's around Jake and wonders why he should even try to get better at basketball or math, for instance, as Jake is always going to best him. When Tyler opens up to his uncle and explains why he's so unhappy, Uncle Kevin explains that some people are like puffer fish that make themselves look bigger than they really are; this can sometimes backfire as the larger they get, the more they push people away. That Tyler talks to an adult and then finds a friend with whom he can share and learn new skills are positive and satisfying elements to the story. Well-executed paintings are appealing and portray the characters' emotions clearly. The book offers information for adults, including a foreword, an author's note, questions for discussion, and a recommended reading list.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
"My neighbor Jake can be a real jerk," says Tyler. Jake is constantly belittling Tyler's accomplishments and boasting about his own. With the help of his uncle, Tyler learns that Jake's bragging is no reflection of Tyler's abilities. Story line takes a backseat to the heavy moral lesson, but the book (with foreword and backmatter aimed at adults) accomplishes its goal.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)