DIVE IN!

A watery romp not just to read, but to tap, tilt, and tickle.

The authorial indie band carries over its characteristic participatory style to this interactive episode. Wetsuit-clad Sir Sebastian Stockingbottomham primes young readers to join in by urging them to shout, to blubber their lips when they see words in a certain typeface, and then to hold their breath for a count of 10. The white, gray-mustachioed gentleman then leads an underwater expedition to sandy depths to accost Burt the blobfish, push him around with a finger, then slide him off the page and back by tilting the book. Understandably irritated by this treatment, Burt enlists readers’ help to retaliate with instructions to tickle the diver in turn and drive him back to the beach by shaking the pictures and turning them upside down. McClurkan’s big, cheery cartoon scenes being visible from a distance, even when actual touching isn’t feasible, this invitation to active reading will work as well with large audiences as it will alone or one on one.

A good way to kick up an overly quiet storytime.