This previously unpublished picture book by the inimitable Ruth Krauss, author of such classics as The Carrot Seed and A Hole Is to Dig, is perfectly paired with the subtly colored pen, ink and watercolor art of 2011 Sendak Fellow Sergio Ruzzier (Two Mice). Delicately filled with enticing details, whimsical commands and humorous illustrations, Roar Like a Dandelion is an unusual, playful alphabet book.
The absurd quality of the activities and the accompanying pictures will be immediately appealing to any child (or adult) with a wry sense of humor: "Paint a picture of a cage with an open door and wait" appears on a two-page spread showing a small animal artist sleeping next to a cage painted on an old wall; strange, winged creatures fly eagerly toward the open cage. The white space on each page provides a sense of quiet order, while the illustrations of individual birds, insects, plants and other objects cavorting exude a happy, wild feel. Ruzzier creates a visual narrative with recurring characters: a cat holding an umbrella as elephants "Fall like rain," for instance, scatters a few pages later when the elephants "Jump like a raindrop." Whether listening to the book as a read-aloud or reading the pages independently, children will surely want to join in on the action ("Hold your arms out like a little pine tree"). A single child or a whole group can easily engage with Roar and follow the silly directions. Not a first alphabet book, this small gem will encourage imaginative wordplay and movement. --Melinda Greenblatt, freelance book reviewer