The Most Perfect Spot

Diane Goode's pictorial style is unique in that it draws on imagery and fashions from the early part of the last century (i.e. 1910-20), but it's presented in a way that seems fresh and inviting. The Most Perfect Spot is a charming tale in which a little boy invites his mother out for a picnic lunch and a day in the park, only to have his plans upset by a string of dramatic incidents - a flock of ducks takes off at the moment Jack and his mom are getting into a boat for a row out into the lake, causing them both to plunge into the water, a group of dogs runs through the area, upsetting everything, the rain comes pouring down just as they settle down for lunch, etc. There's a nice sideline involving a little stray puppy who follows them home too. The park in the story is a big old-fashioned one (like Central Park) with a majestic gateway arch and lots of big trees, and the street where Jack and his mother live in a small upstairs apartment is a pleasing urban landscape with walk-up flats, shops, and lots of human activity. The pictures and amusing storyline make this book a joy to read. In Goode's Tiger Trouble, Jack returns, this time with a friendly pet tiger (!) named Lily that lives with him in his apartment. When a fusty, fussy older man named Mr. Mud buys the building in which Jack resides, said new owner's first demand is that Jack get rid of the tiger because Mr. Mud "hates cats". But when tiger Lily catches a burglar trying to burgle Mr. Mud's apartment, the old man has a change of heart - as does his like-minded dog, Fifi, who previously supported Mr. Mud in his cat-hating ways. Once again, the great illustrations and simple, quirky storyline had us hooked. We'll be looking out for more of Diane Goode's work in the future!