January 3, 2022
We are all capable of growth—just ask former baby and now “big boy” George, portrayed with light brown skin. As a toddler, George pulled the dog’s tail and engaged in “throwing food and mushing it on my face”; now, though, he’s the “best helper,” and even knows how to share in the sandbox. Affirming George’s maturity trajectory are his parents, who praise every positive effort with the titular exclamation (his mother “claps so hard her hands must hurt,” the child observes). But even super helpers can have setbacks, and through a series of ill-considered actions, George wrecks a nearly finished home improvement project, splattering paint on the room, the dog, and himself. This time, Mom and Dad “do not say, ‘Good job, George,’ and they are not clapping.” But the story is quickly buoyed when the protagonist acknowledges his mistake and helps clean up. With warmhearted cartooning and winks at everyday domestic comedy (including a streaking vignette of “baby” George), O’Connor (the Fancy Nancy series) and Joyner (Love Was Inside) ground their story in a loving environment and reassure readers that praise isn’t empty words; on the contrary, positive reinforcement can help kids strive to be their best selves. Ages 3–6.