Bug Blonsky and His Very Long List of Don'ts by E.S. Redmond (review)

Rules are sometimes only made after they're broken, as seven-year-old Bug Blonsky learns when a day of questionable choices lands him in the quiet corner to write a long list of Don'ts to keep his future self in line. Don't hop on one leg while eating boring wheat squares at breakfast—it's only going to bring the wrath of your older sister when the milk inevitably spills. Don't draw pictures of pig roller coasters during math unless you want Ms. Munster to inform you that it's "not a very good use of your time." You probably also should avoid asking your principal if she was pretty when she was younger. His sister might find him annoying and his parents might find him exasperating, but readers will delight in Bug's mischievous mayhem; those who have their own difficulties with sitting still will especially relate to our wiggly protagonist and his constant need for movement. There's no real malice in Bug's behavior; he's simply a kid who is yet to develop impulse control, so telling Grandma a newly learned curse word or climbing a bookcase to get a book from the top shelf seem like reasonable actions. The black and white cartoonish art lends plenty of visual humor: the titles of the books on Bug's teacher's desk include "The Joyless Classroom," and Bug's waste-of-math-time pigs make several appearances. Plentiful illustrations, stealthy repetition, and the appeal of the class clown make this a quick pick for the early reader set. KQG