Ding Dong Ding Dong - Hardcover

In this exercise in absurdity, Palatini and Fine (Piggie Pie; Zoom Broom) imagine the unlikely combination of a movie monster and a frustrated freelance salesman. The cryptic title, which rhymes with "King Kong" and mimes an insistently ringing doorbell, primes readers for a whopper of a pun: an oversize gorilla who sells "Ape-On" cosmetics. "It's a jungle out there!" moans the huge and hairy protagonist. Although he dresses to impress in khakis, a white shirt and a red bow tie, he cannot "get his foot in the door" (frankly, even his toes are too big). Taking his sample case in hand, he leaves the tropical forest forAwhere else?ANew York City. After putting blush and lipstick on the Statue of Liberty, he scales the Empire State Building to hawk his wares from window to window. Palatini has a ball with product names; her sales-gorilla recommends Da-Vine perfume and Monkey See, Monkey Dew lotion. In dexterous pastel spreads, Fine presents the gorilla as hulking but congenial to all, with inky black fur that offsets the golden-pink and brick-red facades of city buildings. Never does the gentle hero abandon his chummy ad-man persona, and his schmoozy nature pays off in the predictable conclusion, which finds him in Hollywood. Provided that young readers have heard of Kong and pesky door-to-door salespeople, this wordplayful tale offers corny jokes galore. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PreSchool-Grade 3 The pair who dreamed up Piggie Pie (Clarion, 1995) are back with a pun-filled adventure involving an oversized, hapless ape trying to find his niche in the world. The Big Guy can't seem to get a break as a door-to-door salesbeast for Ape-On Cosmetics. Moving to the Big Apple is a step in the right direction. Adults will get the humor more than kids Ape-On is a takeoff of Avon, the training manual is reminiscent of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and the ape is shown demonstrating his wares on a mascara-ed Statue of Liberty. Yet, youngsters should have no problem identifying him with King Kong. The puns tend to wear a tad thin, but the creative use of typesetting goes along with the humorous, right-on illustrations to keep the story moving, maintaining a larger-than-life feel. All in all, it's hard not to like this gigantic, bespectacled, dweebish primate. Readers and storytime attendees will cheer when he finally finds his place in life on a Hollywood set, no less. Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.