TIME TO GO, SID!

Despite plentiful encouragement and direction, a young child never quite makes it out the door for a trip to the park.

Blond-haired, pale-skinned, pajama-clad Sid is lounging about when an out-of-sight caregiver encourages the youngster to begin getting ready. Sid’s clothing appears in a chaotic whirl and includes the expected (socks, shirt, etc.), along with more intriguing accessories, like tie-on wings and a tail. Breakfast becomes an equally complicated and fanciful experience, with a (presumably imaginary) Rube Goldberg–esque milk delivery system and a high dive into the cereal bowl. Tooth brushing involves an art project, and the caregiver’s instructions to pack a single toy turns into a bag stuffed to the brim. Savvy readers and listeners won’t be surprised that Sid still isn’t ready to leave without a (remarkably messy) trip to the bathroom. The almost-outing is permanently scuttled by a revelation that suggests that the morning’s implied stress, if not the actual events, could have been neatly avoided. This final twist may amuse or annoy. Prompts from the off-the-page adult are brisk and to the point, while Sid’s minimal responses are believably childlike. The matter-of-fact text contrasts nicely with the frenetic activity pictured, bringing a sense of mischief and fun to a situation kids and adults know all too well. Flat, cartoon-style illustrations vary in size and format, from full-page pictures to small vignettes and multipaneled drawings. Colors are muted, with yellow, orange, and blue predominant.

An inventive take on a familiar struggle.