Let George Do It! (review)

Confusion reigns when multiple members of your household have the same name; such is the central gimmick of this picture book by boxing legend George Foreman. It's Big George's birthday, and Mrs. George asks her sons (George, George, George, George, and Baby George) to pitch in and help out with party preparations. A failure to communicate and the constant interruption of the phone and doorbell results in tasks getting done more than once by different Georges (the chairs get brought downstairs, then upstairs, then downstairs, and poor Baby George gets three baths from three different brothers). Ultimately the party is a success, with George reminding his father that "any time you need help—Let George do it!" The likable cast of characters and constant mayhem of the household make for an entertaining tale, and, while it is a rather slender device around which to base a story, young listeners are likely to get a kick out of the numerous Georges. Martin's boldly outlined illustrations are filled with splashy washes of color, and his comic facial expressions are especially well rendered. The inclusion of various George references throughout the pages (framed paintings of George Washington and George Washington Carver, a book about King George) add to the visual appeal. This enjoyably silly volume will likely inspire multiple requests for rereads.