THE BIG BOOGER BATTLE

Grab a tissue—this vibrant picture book delivers silly adventure alongside copious amounts of mucus.

This sequel to Little Captain Jack (2017) takes the diminutive pirate and his crew to unusual new locations as they travel the high seas. After discovering a message in a bottle pleading for help, Jack charts a course for Achoo Island. Soon, the crew discovers that the island is inhabited by person-sized noses (with tiny limbs) intent on coating Jack and company with snot and boogers! Quick thinking and teamwork get Little Captain Jack and his friends to safety, but not before he contracts a mysterious sneezing illness. Hilarity ensues when Jack’s sneezes produce bubbles, confetti, and even popcorn. A return trip to Achoo Island and a clever plan become necessary if he ever wants to find a cure. The theme of the series opener may have been self-acceptance, but readers of this new story are left with a less meaningful takeaway: “Make sure you have a hanky in your hand / if you travel to Booger Land.” Both noses and pirates represent a wide variety of skin tones, and one pirate is shown using a wheelchair.

Unanswered questions and a muddled plot may leave readers scratching their heads instead of picking their noses.