Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Off-Limits by Helen Yoon


This hilarious picture book follows the adventures of a mischievous little child who starts out just by looking… but can’t resist temptation.

The story begins with Daddy, leaving an “off-limits” sign on his office as he wanders off with the dog for a coffee refill. A wide-eyed little girl pokes her head in and the fun begins. Naturally, she’s just looking. Just looking! But then she borrows one teensy piece of tape and… things… escalate. Soon she’s spinning in patterned circles of sticky notes, bedecked with paperclip jewelry, and dancing in a sea of cut paper. A sudden realization sends her sneaking back to her own room, where a surprise awaits… she’s not the only person who’s been getting into something that doesn’t belong to her!

The story ends with a cozy tea party with the little girl in a paper crown and daddy and the dog in matching glittery tutus. While parents who are desperately trying to keep kids out of their cobbled-together home offices may not appreciate this, it’s a light-hearted look at getting carried away by one’s imagination and the guilty pleasure of playing with office supplies with a tip of the hat to grown-ups having fun pretending too.

Verdict: A fun addition to storytime or one-on-one reading, this would also make a hilarious writing or STEM prompt to get kids thinking about repurposing office supplies or other materials or to show them that everyone enjoys a good bout of imaginative play.

ISBN: 9781536207316; Published November 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

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