SHORTY & CLEM BLAST OFF!

The odd couple introduced in Shorty & Clem (2017) wrangle over a rocket kit.

The broad contrast in personalities between dinosaur Shorty and avian buddy Clem fuels this follow-up. Loud, extroverted, and unwilling to take “no” for an answer, Shorty really, really wants to help the quieter, more serious, and increasingly annoyed Clem assemble the model: “Come on, Clem. Please! Please! Please! Please!” Clem’s shouted “I do not need help!” finally drives the demanding dino away—but not for long, as a “CRASH!” leaves Clem, who is too short to set the rocket’s nose cone in place, sitting tearfully amid wreckage. “I need help.” What Clem gets is a comforting hug, then an assist from Shorty’s “handy bendy tail” to set the rocket to rights. Slack tells the tale in dialogue (with a few added sound effects), and he floats his chunky figures against a pale blue, blank background, which has the effect of focusing attention on their expressively drawn faces. With sophisticated pacing that practically guarantees chuckles, this should find fans with both older listeners and emergent readers alike.

Sometimes peace and quiet just isn’t in the cards…and that isn’t always a bad thing.