Liz and Jimmy Reed have another Sweet Success

I have mentioned before I work at a bookstore. And therefore, I read things I might not otherwise pick up just, so I can review them or recommend (or not) to fellow staff members. This time I found several reader copies of picture books and one of them was Sweet Success by Liz and Jimmy Reed. I knew nothing about them, but later learned the illustrations used is something they are known for on the internet because of their webcomic with their diorama artwork.

Sweet Success could have been a great success except for the illustrations. I just could not get pass the Claymation look it all. And the banana? I am sorry! That was just obscene. Yet, I know a lot of people that will see pass that and love it. For the illustrations or despite them. The story is one that kids need to learn. It is fun to start projects, but it is just as fun to finish them (and know that I think of it, that is a good lesson for adults too).

I think this book would have made a great slightly larger than normal board book or would be a better in paper than hardcover book. There is not a lot of text and due to the format of the art it is also limited and sparse. That is not a bad thing, but I think I would have liked more illustrations or more text (but not both). It will work for the slightly younger crowd to read aloud to and the beginning reader should be fine with it as well.