My Dad Is the Best

Two pale-skinned children compete to prove that “my dad is the best,” in this goofy tale of one-upmanship. After an exaggerated opening gambit (“My dad can pick up... a truck!”), things quickly escalate as the kids continue to up the ante until cumulative lines achieve a pinnacle of absurdity (“My dad can pick up a truck filled with elephants pregnant with triplets on top of a skyscraper”). The mood softens after disastrous results predictably ensue, with the dads modeling a camaraderie that leaves everyone blushing with happiness. Playing with scale, Turu’s casual cartoon-like sketches echo Pintadera’s over-the-top storytelling via depictions of the protagonists that feature enlarged heads and upper bodies. A plain white backdrop places an emphasis on the kid-orchestrated antics and the warm sentiments that eventually emerge. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)