Fenske, Jonathan. Stop That Mop! Ready to Read. Jonathan Fenske, Illus. Simon & Schuster/Simon Spotlight, 01/2025. [32]pp. Reader. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6659-3272-1. GRADES Preschool–1. OUTSTANDING.
The mop has had it with the slop and glop that drops, so it runs away. In the ensuing chaos, the rebellious mop is chased by a pig, a bunny, a pony, and a fishy, none of whom can catch the mop. Even the stop sign fails to stop the determined mop! There is a dramatic, literal cliff-hanger that hilariously resolves what could have been a dire ending for the mop. This book is filled with goofy characters, nonstop action, and a charismatic mop who not only takes us on a wild romp, but engages early readers using the short “o” -op word family in successfully constructed rhymes. The animal sounds—“hop” and “clop” and “flop”—are incorporated into the lively and bright pastel colored illustrations. Characters are active and emotive. The use of panels and full two-page spreads inform the tension of the story: panels introduce new characters while two-page spreads heighten the excitement of the chase to a satisfying conclusion and the introduction of a final character. Decoding has never been so fun! Inevitably, this energetic and silly reader will delight both children and adults. Winner of the Geisel Award.
Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library