KNOT CANNOT

Knot is a short length of rope who wishes he were more like Snake, but…he’s knot.

Thus begins a zany exploration of all the things Snake can do (slither, hiss, swallow) that Knot cannot. Lowery’s signature madcap cartoons and hand lettering depict a smug snake and a surprisingly expressive knot with bug eyes and emotive stripes who produces long-suffering sighs in speech bubbles. Meanwhile, Stone’s text is both funny and punny: “Snake can even shed her skin. Snake looks brand-new. Can Knot look brand-new? No, he’s a frayed knot.” Additionally, rhyme-y knot/not combinations and jokes fill the pages. “Can Knot do this? Knot can…not. What can Knot do? Not a lot.” When danger approaches, however, Knot’s signature ability (“Knot can…knot!”) finally comes in handy to save his friend. Yes, it’s essentially a one-trick pony, but Stone and Lowery’s collaboration is a fun vehicle for important learning, ably illustrating the futility of comparing yourself to others while celebrating each individual’s strengths. As a bonus, it also sneakily includes actual information about several different types of knots that Knot can make.

Clever wordplay and an unlikely (and adorable) protagonist make this book knot to be missed.