cover image The Terrible Twos: J. J. and Lulu

The Terrible Twos: J. J. and Lulu

Julia Gorton. Hyperion Books, $10.99 (28pp) ISBN 978-0-7868-0268-5

Twins Lulu and J.J. get into double the trouble in this compendium of misbehavior: drawing on the walls, unrolling the toilet paper, shortening the curtains with scissors. The text consists of toddler-esque sound effects, in oversized letters: ""Oh, Oh Mama Doo Doo"" narrates a toilet mishap; J.J. jeers at ballerina Lulu with ""Nyaah Nyaah Lulu Tutu Kookoo."" Gorton's (My New Sandbox) crisp-edged, airbrushed acrylic artwork incorporates flat images of fabric for the character's clothing. Fold-out pages show the havoc that can be wreaked the moment a parent's back is turned. The episodic story and sharp, slick art will strike some as energetic, others as disjointed and somewhat cold (and a few of the mishaps are hard to follow). But overall, terrible twos are likely to enjoy witnessing the destruction--just hope they don't take this book for a how-to guide. Ages 2-5. (Mar.)