Tickle by Leslie Patricelli, and: Toot by Leslie Patricelli (review)

The bald-headed hero of Patricelli’s successful board books (Tubby, BCCB 12/10, etc.) is back in two shiny new stories for the youngest listeners. In Tickle, the very determined protagonist announces “I am NOT ticklish!” Unsurprisingly, Daddy begs to differ, and a full-out tickle monster attack is soon underway. The baby laughs throughout the scuffle, Daddy gives it everything he’s got (the big-cheeked raspberries-on-the-belly illustration is particularly endearing), and soon Mommy, the dog, and the cat are all in on the fun. Accompanying tickles are pretty much a guarantee with this readaloud, with bonus points for trying to keep a straight face through the attack. There will be no straight faces around for the second title, however, which celebrates passing gas in all its squeaky, stinky glory. From the opening image, where the baby seems all-out surprised by the tiny toot coming from behind, to the final declaration that “All toots are funny!,” little listeners will delight in the book’s celebration of the joys of body noise. In addition to covering the funny side of farting (“Toot, toot, toot, I’m a train!”), the author also offers some practical applications (“I toot when I have to go potty. I toot when I have a tummy ache”), though the favorite spread will hands-down be the bare-bottomed baby tooting in the bathtub (“It’s so bubbly!”). This is definitely not a book for teaching restraint or appropriate timing, but for families willing to have some flatulence-themed fun, this is a must-have.