Yes, this is a children's book and I could read it over and over and over. You know those kids' book that you have read 100 times even though you hated it from the first but you grit your teeth and read it AGAIN because the kid loves it so? Well, this book is not one of those. Seriously, it is exceedingly clever and original. I love every page. I can just think about it and get a good chuckle! Yep, this one stays on the shelf for the long haul! I picked this one up because I thought the pictures looked great, and they do, but unfortunately I've seen them before in Ian Falconer's Olivia. While they are certainly not copied, the expressive and limited line drawings accented with washes of red and pink have already been done. Unfortunately this execution of that idea is fun but when compared with the first book, are not as good. Here Cordell needs more lines to describe his scenes and characters as well as an extra tint, with the pigs requiring a peachier tone. If the comparison, also prompted by the presence of naughty pigs in the plot, did not downplay the quality of the illustrations, I would consider them rather good. The story, on the other hand, leaves me scratching my head. The moral seems to be that parents shouldn't allow their children to play with gum because it makes a mess- not a fun idea for either children or parents. It also seemed to move rather slowly to end up with such an odd, unfinished-feeling ending.
What do You think about Trouble Gum (2009)?
Lots of fun from a fellow SCBWI-Illinois writer! Great illustrations and amusing storyline!
—minamurray
great fun this book. Lots of interactive word/noises to play along with.
—MKoudys
The kids liked this tale of the naughty pig with the gum.
—lizzy480
Great use of sounds but the story fell flat.
—Jadira
