I once said Tomie dePaola could do no wrong in my eyes. And while that is still true, The Quicksand Book is not in my top ten likes. Yet, there is a charm to it that makes it a fun book tht could appeal across ages.
This is a clever story about the facts of quicksand. The boy of the story is pontificating as the girl (who was swinging through the jungle, minding her own business, when her vine breaks) has been caught in quicksand. The young man tells all the facts about quicksand. Which frankly, was neat. I had previously had some of the myths debunked already, but there still was a lot to learn. Like how dry sand actually becomes “quicksand.” The facts are all laid out in easy to understand language and images. The classic style of dePaola is on every page and in every illustration.
First published the late 1970s, this new edition still has the sound of then, but I am assuming has been somewhat updated. The ending is hilarious and classically him. There is a lot going on around the two characters, so be sure to read the illustrations as well. One complaint I have is that the colors are more muted then they could have been. Even though they are in a jungle and there is some color, it does not pop like it could have.
While obviously this book is a great addition to a classroom or library, the one-0n-one reading for a bedtime story is not necessarily naturally there. Any child interested in science could be the reader for this. And of course, Tomie fans must find this for their collection.