Peanut Butter and Jellyfish

February 17, 2014
Two friends take the high road and aid an undersea antagonist in this gentle-natured adventure. Peanut Butter, a smiley yellow seahorse, and his equally cheery best bud Jellyfish love swimming and exploring the ocean. Unfortunately, their outings are usually interrupted by Crabby, a crab who pelts them with insults (“I’ve seen sea snails swim with more style”). When Crabby gets swept up in a lobster trap, Peanut Butter and Jellfyish feel compelled to help and gain a new pal in the process. Krosoczka (the Punk Farm books) gives his characters universal emotions that preschoolers will easily relate to, from Jellyfish’s huffy declaration that “Driftwood and sea stones may break our bones...” to Crabby’s abashed apology. The artwork—acrylic paintings digitally assembled into collages full of heavily brushstroked currents and brightly colored kelps—create an inviting underwater landscape. “It was on the ocean floor that they found their greatest treasure!” writes Krosoczka in closing, letting readers decide whether that means friendship (aww) or the actual chest of gold the friends romp around in as the story ends. Ages 3–7. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

March 1, 2014
A cantankerous crab lives up to his name, bullying everyone in the ocean until he realizes the importance of friendship. Peanut Butter, a sunny sea horse, and Jellyfish, a gleeful gelatinous blob, are best friends. They swim up, down and around, all over their ocean home. Unfortunately, every time they swim by Crabby, he has something mean to say. Crabby stays on the ocean floor, claws cupped to mouth, taunting, "What a bunch of bubbleheads!" and "You guys smell like rotten barnacles!" and the worst insult of all: "You guys swim like humans!" Peanut Butter and Jellyfish defiantly call back, "Driftwood and sea stones may break our bones, but words will never hurt us." (Technically, Jellyfish doesn't have any bones, but that's beside the point.) But when Crabby finds himself caught in a lobster trap, his foul mouth falls silent. True to heroic form, Peanut Butter and Jellyfish save him. It's not startlingly original, but Krosoczka's saturated waterscape and expressive cast brighten this familiar tale. Crabby does explain that he was jealous--a look behind bullying behavior is always appreciated. There's nothing new under the sea, but these creatures are irrepressible, even Crabby. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Peanut Butter the sea horse and Jellyfish happily explore their undersea world. They try to avoid Crabby Crab, who lives on the seabed and teases them about their swimming ability. When he is caught in a lobster trap, Peanut Butter and Jellyfish rescue the crustacean and discover that his crabbiness stems from his jealousy of their friendship and their ability to swim in open waters. All three become friends and explore the seabed together. The short sentences and brief text make the story an appealing length for younger children. Some of Crabby's insults, however, may go over the head of the intended audience, such as "My grandma called, she wants her run-walk shoes back." The below-the-sea scenes are an appealing wash of bright acrylic brush strokes, with the sea creatures easily recognizable by their strong bold colors and shapes. Clear facial expressions convey their emotions, which will help younger children to become aware of facial cues within illustrations (and in real life). While the book has child appeal and would make a suitable read-aloud, it is a nice-to-have addition, rather than an essential purchase.-Michelle Anderson, Tauranga City Libraries, New Zealand

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Though relentlessly taunted by Crabby, best friends Peanut Butter (a sea horse) and Jellyfish don't ignore his pleas for help when he is caught in a lobster trap. Citing jealousy as its root, Crabby apologizes for his bullying behavior and the three become friends. The colorful digitally collaged acrylics paint a happy setting for this tale of an unbelievably self-aware bully.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)