Author: Joe Consiglio
Publisher: Schiffer
Rating: WORTHY!
Illustrated beautifully by Joe Simko.
DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review. The chance to read a new book is often enough reward aplenty!
Today happens to be crazy kids day on my blog and I have two, count 'em two, once again, two gloriously insane kids books which have, as their educational component, the fact that it's perfectly fine to be completely nutso ponce in a while. This first volume is admirably qualified because it's completely off the rails - or more accurately, off the road!
The ice cream man in this neighborhood is a hood when it comes to his neighbors. He lies in wait in his irresistibly colorful and amply-stocked ice cream van (no doubt chortling - yes, chortling I say - to himself) idling until poor, sweet, innocent and unsuspecting kids get close - then he drives off like a maniac before any of the kids can approach the window to actually buy an ice cream. Yes, my friends, this is a truly evil ice cream man!
Is there no respite for these deprived children? Will no one take pity upon them? Up to the plate steps Big Billy. Now if you've ever heard the song Big Bad John by by Jimmy Dean, you'll know what kind of a lineage Big Billy has behind him, but despite his size, Billy, just like Big Bad John, is full of surprises. He doesn't get mad, he gets even, and he organizes the kids in revolt against the ruthless ice cream hegemony.
There can only be one way this ends - delightfully! Big Billy comes through with a surprise befitting his name, and all's svelte that ends swell - especially if there's ice cream! I loved this book and thoroughly recommend it. And did I mention: there's ice cream?
On the downside, I have to mention one small issue which is the slowness of the page turning in the iPad Air. I was using Bluefire Reader, and the iPad is new, but the page turns took up to eight seconds. That's painfully slow.
