Milo’s Special Words (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Milo’s Special Words Karen Coats Harper, Charise Mericle. Milo’s Special Words; written and illus. by Charise Mericle Harper. Corey/Random House, 2009 22p. ISBN 978-0-375-84613-7 $10.99 R 3–5 yrs Envious of his little sister Lucy’s tasty beverage, Milo issues a command to his mother: “Milk!” When Mommy doesn’t respond to the escalating volume of his requests, Lucy reminds Milo to use his special word. Several tries later (“Shazam!” “Abracadabra!”), he hits on “Please,” and Mommy scurries to reward his polite request. Then, of course, she hovers, waiting until he comes up with the appropriate special words for gratitude. Thrilled by the efficacy of his utterances, Milo attempts to transfer his new skill to other requests—“Pony, please!”, “Rocket, please!”, etc. Though this is a well-worn concept, the delight in this paper-engineering-enhanced treat is in the details. Thick, glossy white pages sport cleverly deployed wheels to turn (offering various test “special words” for Milo, for instance) and flaps to lift, keeping things entertaining but uncluttered. Medium-thick black outlines encase spots of digital color and textured fabrics, some photocollage, to form the figures and minimal props—a basket of laundry, the ubiquitous change jar that adorns every well-used laundry room, a red rug that marks kid territory and a green one for Mom’s. Mom is a site for quiet humor, as she switches out her glam heels to red sneakers in her sprint to accommodate Milo’s properly phrased request and moves as quick as the bunny she is (it’s a mixed family, with her son a cat and her daughter a puppy). This gentle absurdity is in full keeping with the almost but not quite wry tone that almost but not quite sends up the conventional didacticism of magic words. Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois