Under the Table by Allan Ahlberg (review)

Reviewed by: Under the Table by Allan Ahlberg Cassidy Russell Ahlberg, Allan Under the Table; illus. by Bruce Ingman. Candlewick, 2024 40p Trade ed. ISBN 9781536231519 18. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 3-6 yrs Elsie Cannon finds incredible things under her family's kitchen table, like an elephant who helps her family wash the car and a kangaroo who helps them bring in groceries. When a couple of penguins show up, Elsie's parents decide to take the whole crew on vacation, loading up their camper and setting off for some fun. They have a wonderful vacation, full of swimming and barbeques, and just when they're ready to head home, they discover a new hippo friend under a picnic table. Full of silly wordplay and cheeky, personified animals and objects, this whimsical book is a bit of a throwback in the tradition of Maurice Sendak or Ruth Krauss. Its use of rhythmic text and direct address ("Now here's another story for you, full End Page 314 of such fun and exciting stuff, you will surely love it") shine when read out loud. Ingman's wacky pencil and paint illustrations are a delight, offering plenty of visual fodder as animals hide throughout the book and household objects, like knives and ketchup bottles, scamper across the pages. The dynamic images, with their mix of pastel colors and vibrant reds, are exciting enough to keep non-reading kiddos interested, though the type's contrast might be tough for early readers or folks with visual impairments. Read this one at your next storytime and follow it up with the romp it deserves, searching for imaginary animals under any nearby tables. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois