A CLASSIC IN THE MAKING FROM THE 2008 CALDECOTT HONOR WINNER

ONE BOY is a perfect example of why Kirkus Reviews calls Laura Vaccaro Seeger the “emerging master of the concept book”—a die-cut book exploring counting and words-withinwords, and the power of art and imagination. At the start, readers see a sad boy surrounded by empty, lonely chairs. At his feet is a bag with paint brushes peeking out. The text reads “ONE boy” which—with a turn of the page and a look through a cleverly cut hole—turns into “all alONE.” Page after page, the book becomes populated with seals, apes, and monkeys, all examples of words-within-words. Finally, we come back to “ONE boy” who is “all dONE,” and we discover where all the characters came from.

"Seeger (First the Egg) crafts another nifty peek-a-boo book, counting to 10 and identifying new words by exposing or covering letters with die-cuts. A square die-cut on the cover frames the head of the title character, who is quickly introduced: as readers turn to the first spread, Seeger offers a numeral one and 'one boy' on the verso page, with the boy framed in a rectangle on the right. A turn of the page shifts the opening to the left side and the words 'all alone' appear, with 'alone' incorporating 'one.' The boy now is visible without the frame, seated among empty chairs, a knapsack and paintbrushes by his side. This pattern repeats with 'two seals/ at the sea,' the 'sea' derived from 'seals.' 'Three apes,' behind die-cut bars of a cage, make a 'big escape.' Aside from 'four monkeys' who '[hold] the key' to the apes' cage, the images do not form a continuous narrative. Instead, the 'one boy' reappears, and with the words 'all done,' he walks away from the book's 10 images, his paintbrushes dripping. Seeger uses pared-down digital art and flat saturated colors, trading in her characteristic handmade appeal for a slick look. But she's innovative as ever, improving a standard-issue concept with a game of words inside words. Ages 2 — 6. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

A Caldecott Honor winner presents this die-cut book that explores counting and word-within-words concepts along with the power of imagination. Full color.

LAURA VACCARO SEEGER lives near New York City withher husband and two sons.