Rot, the Cutest in the World!

September 15, 2017
A "mutant potato" with mottled skin and mismatched eyes enters a cuteness contest.No sooner does Rot sign up than he's bellowing out a song in anticipation of victory--until the sight of his rival contestants, an "itty-bitty baby bunny with fluffy, floppy ears," a "little-wittle bewitching bewhiskered cuddly kitten," and an "eenie-weenie pink and peppy jolly jellyfish" shakes even his self-confidence. Maybe if he dons bunny ears, whiskers, or a pink tutu? No, in the end he decides to go onstage as he is, show his better side (butt crack and all), and hope for the best. And, as the judging panel turns out to be composed entirely of moldy fruits, he struts off with a huge shiny trophy. Clanton includes potato stamps among the various media he uses to create his simple cartoon illustrations, achieving compellingly scabrous looks for his main character and the judges. He also leaves it to readers to decide if the outcome is a case of cuteness being in the eye of the beholder or, as the "little-wittle," etc., kitten mutters, evidence of a rigged competition. The kitten has an argument, but readers would be hard put to find a decomposing spud with a more winning personality. (Picture book. 6-8)

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October 2, 2017
Rot is not the cutest in the world. He’s a “mutant potato” with stick legs, four straggling hairs, and a substantial unibrow. What he does have is confidence, and when he sees a sign advertising the Cutest in the World Contest, he’s in. Never mind that his competitors are a baby bunny “with fluffy floppy ears,” a kitten, and a pink jellyfish. They’re all adorable, but they treat Rot with disdain (“I think I’m going to be sick!”). In a brief sequence, Rot wavers: perhaps he should look more like the others? He tries on a pair of fluffy ears, but they’re “kind of itchy!” No, he’ll be himself. He earns the other animals’ respect and triumphs in a most unexpected way. It’s a challenge to draw a character who’s both repellent and still appealing to readers, but Clanton (Boo Who?) does not pull his punches. He treats familiar themes—being and believing in oneself—with a light hand. And he explores, with sensitivity, the visceral reaction to real ugliness and suggests a path through it to the other side. Ages 4–8. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

November 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Rot is a mutant potato with sparse hair, unibrow, nubby teeth, and asymmetrical eyes. And, like most mutant potatoes, he likes eating, games, and contests of all sorts. So when Rot sees a sign for the Cutest in the World contest, he immediately enters. His opponents are an adorable baby bunny, a cuddly kitten, and a jolly, pink jellyfish. They are less than supportive of Rot's chances of winning. In fact, they are downright unpleasant. After deciding not to eat them because that would be mean and probably cause indigestion, Rot attempts to enhance his cuteness by adopting bunny ears, whiskers, and becoming pink and jolly. None of this makes Rot feel any cuter so he just decides to be himself. In a twist, Rot wins the contest, which is judged by what appear to be a mutant banana, apple, and pear. Clanton's use of speech and thought bubbles, dynamic text placement, varying font styles and sizes, ample white space, and great facial expression all make for a fun (and fun to read) tale of self-acceptance. VERDICT An entertaining and irreverent take on self-confidence; a strong choice for large collections.-Catherine Callegari, Reston Regional Library, VA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
Grades K-3 With his mismatched pupils, different-sized nostrils, and unibrow, Rot isn't your normal-looking potato. Rot, who loves games and contests, is eager to enter the Cutest in the World Contest, until he sees the other contestants: an itty-bitty baby bunny with fluffy floppy ears, a little-whittle bewitching bewhiskered cuddly kitten, and an eenie-weenie pink and peppy jolly jellyfish. They are dismissive of Rot, especially when he tries to emulate themhe even dons a pink tutu before deciding to just be himself. The mixed-media illustrations in soft colors (brown for Rot and pastels for the others) show only the characters and minimal props against stark backgrounds, which gives this a theaterlike quality and accentuates the performers and action. The text is brief yet descriptive, done in fonts that vary and sometimes become part of the illustration. While there is a message, it's the playfulness and fun that are front and center. This deserves at least four rotten potatoes, and in Rot's world, that's a good thing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
When Rot, a "mutant potato" with a unibrow, enters the Cutest in the World contest, the other contestants, including a blue bunny and a yellow kitty, undermine his confidence. Following his failed attempts to adopt their adorable attributes, Rot must compete as himself. This uproariously illustrated reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder makes even a unibrow look adorable.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)