nagels's Full Review: Hot Potato, Hot Potato Books
The Wiggles, an Australian band and phenomenon was formed in 1991. The roots of the Wiggles actually stretch back to the 1980s, “when Anthony Field and Jeff Fatt -- aka Blue and Purple Wiggle -- were members of the popular Australian band The Cockroaches.” The group is popular with the preschool set and has performed all over the world. In 2006 the Wiggles were number one on a list of Australia’s richest entertainers for the third year in a row with earnings of 43 million American dollars. That figure is no small potatoes. Speaking of figures, Nicole Kidman is second on that enviable list, while Hugh Jackman follows in third. Spudman, writer of Epinions and avid collector of vacuum cleaners and Mr. Potato Heads did not appear on the list, most likely because he isn’t Australian.
The success of the fab four has led to merchandising of books, DVD’s, toys, clothing, and other children’s products. Hot Potato, Hot Potato is one such book.
Hot Potato, Hot Potato
The twelve-page board book was published in 2004 by the Penguin Young Readers Group. It is illustrated by Red Giraffe. Inlaid into its smooth, glossy cover is a fuzzy, four-inch wide potato to give the toddlers an experience in discriminating between textures. There’s no danger of any child attempting to eat the potato placed mid cover. It’s impossible for anyone to sink his/her gums into it, it doesn’t look real, and smells like book, not delicious potato. Since this is a board book, every page is constructed of heavy, thick stock. There’s no danger of torn pages here unless a young Hercules is in the household.
Spudopsis
What’s a boy to do on a rainy day when he can’t go outside to play? When the Wiggles are confronted with this age-old question, Murray suggests a merry game of hot potato. Music playing, the potato waiting on the plate, the game begins. Henry the octopus who may have an unfair advantage with those extra arms joins the four Wiggles in the festivities. Anthony is the first unlucky Wiggle out when the music stops. As the game resumes Greg, in his magician garb, places the hot potato in his magic hat. Bad move, Greg. You’re out too! Jeff falls asleep, of course. Good night, Jeff. The game continues until a winner is declared. You’ll have to read the book yourself to see who wins. No spoilers here!
Random Remarks
All of the students to whom I showed this book were familiar with the Wiggles and had seen the show at least once. None admitted to watching this “kiddie” show presently. In conversations I learned that the boys wear distinct colors on their TV show, and that Henry the Octopus is a regular. The room depicted in the book is similar to one of the TV show sets. Depicted in the book hanging on the wall are pictures of Wiggles friends, a Wags the dog, Captain Feathersword, and Dorothy the dinosaur. Apparently “Hot Potato” is one the Wiggles’ most performed songs.
Hot Potato, Hot Potato is intended for preschool children. Its simplistic storyline will bore anyone older than four or five. It’s a book that must be read to the little ones, not by them. Only the most precocious of preschoolers, if any, would be able to read words like: potato, guitar, Wiggles, Murray, catches, magic, music, thud, asleep, tosses, again, declare, or champion. Personally I like to see an abundance of one syllable, short vowel words in books for little tykes getting ready to become readers.
One a scale of one to five, five being the best, I’d rate the plot a one. It’s insipid and uninspired. No clues are given to predict the eventual winner of the contest.
I’d rate the characters a one also. They seem interchangeable, though one familiar with the Wiggles will notice familiar tendencies.
The illustrations rate a two out of five. The colors are bright, but there’s little detail in these coloring book look pictures.
I like the concept of board books. Junior can teethe on the rounded page edges after a good reading. And that fuzzy, recessed spud on the cover is kind of cool too.
Bottom Line
Don’t go out of your way to seek out this book. The listed $9.99 price on the back cover is ridiculous. Even the two dollars I paid for it at the nearby bargain store is a stretch. Fortunately a coworker,(my boss actually), offered to buy it from me for two dollars after I reviewed it. A three-year-old might think this book is a hot potato; for everyone else, Hot Potato, Hot Potato is small potatoes for small fries.
It has been raining all day and The Wiggles can t go out to play. What will they do? Murray suggests a game of hot potato. Who will be crowned hot pot...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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