Poojo's Got Wheels by Charrow

Abstract

Reviewed by: Poojo's Got Wheels by Charrow Kiri Palm Charrow Poojo's Got Wheels; written and illus. by Charrow. Candlewick, 2021 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781536210361 $16.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* 3-6 yrs Poojo the dog was born without back legs, but this doesn't slow him down. Hooked up to his trusty wheelchair, Poojo is the zooming king of the dog park, making friends with everyone and everything (including an abandoned scooter). Then Poojo's cart hits a sharp rock and he gets a flat tire. His woe lasts only a moment before he goes searching for a suitable replacement for his trusty tire and fixes up his cart. With sparse text, cartoonish critters, and just the right amount of peril, this readaloud is a shoo-in for storytime. A good amount of the story is told through Charrow's rambunctious, flowing digital and gouache art. Our hero is a pug-like pup with a curly tail and expressive face, often fixed in a warbly smile or puffed out with a mouthful of toys. It's nearly impossible not to feel the whooshing breeze go by as Poojo sprints around the dog park. Subtle visual gags provide extra delight for more observant viewers (or their parental readers), such as Poojo's pink rabbit friend donning a helmet before they attempt to ride the aforementioned scooter and a costume parade featuring a golden retriever clad in corn kernels (corndog, get it?). Listeners are bound to want a romp with Poojo again and again. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois