THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!

Tinkling piano music turns to a melodramatic strain on the audio, and white words flash on a black page of the accompanying book like a silent movie on the silver screen. “What luck!” Mo Willems declares with a dastardly laugh as he portrays a pseudo-gentlemanly fox who is luring a wide-eyed hen home for dinner. Cher Willems affects the naïve air of his potential victim. “Sure!” she says when invited for a walk in the woods. A chorus of children’s voices repeats the yellow chicks’ warning: “That is not a good idea!” Cher acts flirtatious and clueless, making Mo’s oily manner clearer. Then comes a sudden switch. Cher’s voice turns shrewish as she reveals that SHE’S the villainous diner, not the potential dinner. The drama and timing of the audio, written words, and illustrations combine for a triple treat. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2015]