Mitchell Goes Bowling by Hallie Durand (review)

Seems like just yesterday that Mitchell was riding his long-suffering father around the house in raucous pre-bedtime automotive make-believe (Mitchell's License, BCCB 5/11). Suddenly he's four, and with too much energy to spare, what better place to expend it than a bowling alley ("There were lots of brightly colored balls, a good pizza smell, and giant crashing noises")? The only problem is that Mitchell is only racking up single digits per frame, while Dad's amassing a string of Xs, and despite Dad's encouragement, Mitchell knows he's losing big time. Mitchell threatens to go home, but Dad suggests that they team up instead and heave the ball down the alley together. Kids who've met Mitchell know he's one sharp and determined kid, and it seems pretty unlikely that he'd fall in line so easily with a suggestion that requires him to relinquish control of the ball. Durand's take on Mitchell's frustration is right on the mark, though, and Mitchell's successful collaboration with Dad provides a nice example of problem solving for similarly intense kids. There's also plenty to sympathetically chuckle over in Dad's tendency to showboat and the other bowlers' demand to move to a further alley. Fucile's retro palette of cool aquas and grays on an icy white background perfectly sets off the blazing red bowling ball, Dad's russet hair, and the pitch-black mop that frames the rapid-fire expressions animating Mitchell's face. It would be just too cruel to share this with a youngster unless you're prepared to follow it up with a trip to the alley.