Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

A failing jazz club's impending foreclosure threatens a cockroach colony that lives in the shabby building. One of the bugs, Impetuous Roach (a.k.a. Impy), embarks on a plan to save both the club and the entire colony. Though the story lacks real suspense, the insect main characters make for a unique point of view.

Kirkus Reviews

"Smelly locker! / Smelly locker! / Poor hygiene! / Foul and mean!" Sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques," this little ditty introduces some 13 other rhyming celebrations of the school experience that piggyback on familiar tunes. "Stressed About the Test!" ("Miss Mary Mack"), "Heavy Backpack!" ("Oh! Susanna") and the rest each receive an energetic double-page spread, illustrated with Catrow's typical zest, which milks the situation depicted for all it's worth. Although the scansion requires some occasional wedging to fit properly, it's a solid companion to the duo's other Silly Dilly offerings and guaranteed to elicit a lockerful of giggles. (Picture book/poetry. 3-8)

School Library Journal (Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

Gr 1-5 The "Silly Dilly" duo is back again with an irreverent, entertaining commentary in song about school life. From an ode to the odiferous contents of a smelly locker (sung to "Frère Jacques"), to a selection bemoaning the complexity of math, 14 ditties set to well-known tunes capture the absurd, laughable commonalities of the school experience from a student's point of view. Other subjects include the "Lost and Found," a post-recess visit to the nurse, the horrors of cafeteria lunches, class-picture day, test stress, and "I Don't Want to Do Homework!" (to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"). With exaggerated features and hilarious body language, Catrow's expressive cartoon characters capture the bizarre and ridiculous elements of the text. Imaginative, witty details fill the illustrations: portraits of "ABE" and "GEO W" (that's George Washington) hang on the wall; math problems instead of numbers indicate a clock's time; random art and inexplicable phrases ("3Z4 Shut the Door") fill chalkboard computations; and anticipated vacation fun abounds at "Camp GonnaKetchaItcheeRash." A few syllables may fit awkwardly with the tunes, but for fans of the other "silly dilly" songbooks or newcomers, this one is sure to please. Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX