Viva, Frank. Gotta Go! Frank Viva, Illus. Toon, 9/2023. 32pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6626-6507-3. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
How do you hold it when you gotta go? Owen, a bald boy with light brown skin, hilariously learns (and shows off) various gotta go dances while spending time with his Grampa. Viva’s cartoon-like digital drawings use a mix of comic style boxes and full- or partial-page illustrations to tell the story. Owen is hounded off his electronics before heading to Grampa’s and then going to the park. Each time he is reminded to pee, he says he doesn’t need to, but then he really, really does need to. The simple illustrations, consisting of only a few colors and limited details, help keep readers focused on the storyline with few distractions beyond Owen’s dance moves and a growing audience copying his moves. Who knew needing to go could be both funny and informative?
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library