Those Pun-y Sisters Are Back!

It hardly seems possible that three years have passed since students, staff and parents were sitting in the library listening with rapt attention to the wit and wisdom of author, Susan Stevens Crummel.  In collaboration with her sister, Caldecott Honor winner for Tops & Bottoms, Janet Stevens, Crummel has produced the famously popular books, Help Me, Mr. Mutt! Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems, The Great Fuzz Frenzy, Jackalope, And The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon and Cook-A-Doodle-Do!  Be advised interested readers, this duo's newest tale, The Little Red Pen, can be added to the list of winning titles.

With business on her brain Little Red Pen, standing next to a huge stack of student papers awaiting correction, declares Let's get to work! It would seem that in the tradition of The Little Red Hen, Stapler, Scissors, Pencil, Eraser, Pushpin and Highlighter are unwilling to provide assistance to the increasingly hysterical "Queen of Correction."  Unlike the Little Red Hen our outraged "inkster" queries, Why not?  

Their replies brimming with clever word play evoke traditional characteristics of these tools of the trade as well as introducing new twists to the tale--The Pit of No Return and Tank the Hamster.  In the manner of best laid plans Little Red Pen finds herself a potential victim of the frightful bin.  Enter her tenuous helpers whose best intentions have made a mess but teamwork and an enraged hamster turn the tide.

Humor intact Crummel's narrative provides puns galore extenuated by the paint, ink and school supplies gathered one and all in a colorful display by Stevens.  Alternating between one and two page spreads readers' smiles grow as do the antics of these indolent implements.  Exaggerated mood-modeling graphics define the pitch perfect pace.

One can only hope that on some distant day opening a drawer voices will be heard before the contents leap out shouting Save The World!