Review: I Need A New Butt! (McMillan)

AUTHOR: Dawn McMillan  
SERIES: none
PUBLISHER: Dover Publications  
PUBLICATION DATE: September 17, 2014  
ISBN: 9780486787992
PAGES: 32
SOURCE: NetGalley  
GENRE: picture book/humor  
GIVE IT TO: age 4+


SUMMARY: A young boy notices a crack in his rear-end and decides to shop for a new butt.

REVIEW: I Need A New Butt is a fun read with a cute rhyme that young readers will enjoy. There isn't much point to the story, but inventive children will enjoy dreaming up new butt-possibilities for the boy and his father. Kids always love stories with naked rear ends (remember No, David?), but there's not much substance here outside just being a fun read.

ILLUSTRATIONS: Brightly-colored drawings on a white background. Some text is in color with different fonts and larger sizes for emphasis.

ACTIVITIES FOR HOME OR CLASSROOM:

• Art--Create a new butt for the father, whose butt falls off on the last page. What kind of butt might the father want?


• Music, Reading--Rhythm and rhyme--Have children clap or snap to the rhythm.


• Science--What is a butt used for? What would happen if we didn't have a butt crack? Is it possible for a butt to simply fall off?

THE BOTTOM LINE: Fun potty humor for children of all ages.

READALIKES: No, David (Shannon)

RATING BREAKDOWN:

• Overall: 3/5
• Storytime appeal: 2/5--I don't know many librarians or teachers who would be willing to read this aloud with students. There is little substance to the story, and with the frequency of the word "butt" and "fart," it is more likely to send the kids into fits of giggles rather than actually teach them anything. The kids would love it though.
• Characters: 2/5--Character development is almost nothing. The different "butt-possibilities" take center-stage.
• Engrossing: 4/5--Funny enough to keep most kids' attention for 32 pages. I like the simple, colorful, and cleanly-drawn illustrations.
• Writing: 4/5--Rhyming books are sometimes awkward, but this one mostly works.
• Appeal to children: 5/5--I have no doubt young children will find this book quite entertaining. Great for reluctant readers.

CONTENT: Butts and farts are central to the story, but it's all in good, clean fun. Butts are cleanly-drawn; there is no detail beyond some wavy lines denoting malodorous rear ends.

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