A delight from beginning to end, this playful, funny, and energetic book urges kids to turn off the TV and video games, get off their fannies, and entertain themselves. Since we're made in the image of the Divine Creator, the God who "made something out of nothing to do," we are obligated to be creative ourselves. In other words, says La Belle, we have a divine license for fun. La Belle's skewed vision begins with Genesis ("God saw what He'd made and said: 'Hey, that's not bad!'"). He then goes on to suggest hilarious activities, illustrating them with an ethnically diverse cast of characters in wacky situations. In short, there's simply no excuse for boredom. Totally unique in both message and presentation and appropriate for the widest possible audience, this book has a funny rhymed text that begs to be read out loud and often. Its colorful eye-popping art is as immediately strong, distinctive, and memorable as that by Sendak, Kirk, or Van Allsburg, announcing a bright new talent in children's books. What's more, its universal theme is one every kid aged four to eight needs to hear, and every parent and teacher desperately wants said. Save a few copies for yourself, then recommend this book to parents and grandparents, caregivers, public and parochial school teachers, nursery schools and daycares, home schools, Sunday school teachers, catechists, child psychologists, and art and play therapists. +
