Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Lizard Leon "has to go poo." But: "OH NO! NO PAPER!" Fortunately, Leon finds a pair of old underpants hanging on a tree. After Leon finishes, he's accosted by a voice berating Leon for his poor judgment and demanding that he clean the soiled undies. The book's large pages and expressive illustrations give Leon's morality play lots of space to unfold.

Kirkus Reviews

A sparely told French knee-slapper features a chameleon, a rabbit and a pair of repurposed undies. Twice repurposed, as it turns out. Having enjoyed his customary breakfast fly, green Leon "has to go poo"--and discovers too late that there's no paper. Happily, he finds a pair of red patterned underwear "full of holes," hanging from a twig. But hardly has he chucked the soiled briefs into a bush than an insistent little voice drives him to repent of the theft, scrub the rag clean and hang it up again. "Since when are we allowed to touch other people's things? What do they teach you in school, anyway?" That voice of conscience, as it turns out, actually belongs to an annoyed rabbit in cape and costume. He emerges from hiding to reclaim the garment, tug it over his (wait for it) ears (the "holes" turn out to be eyeholes) and fly off. The text, printed in different colors and typefaces depending on the speaker, is placed over minimally detailed outdoor scenes created with splatters and thin layers of paint, featuring skinny-limbed figures with beady, expressive eyes. A natural for fans of Jon Klassen's terse creature capers. (Picture book. 5-8)

School Library Journal (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

PreS Leon, a green iguana, is caught with no toilet paper. He has enjoyed a good breakfast and spent the morning in the sun. When nature calls, he hides behind a tree to take care of business and then discovers the empty toilet-paper roll. He considers using leaves or grass to clean himself, but neither of those choices is satisfactory. He spies what he assumes to be a discarded and torn pair of red-dotted underpants that "will do the trick." When he is done, he casts aside the soiled briefs, but then his conscience gets the better of him. He wrestles with the little voice inside that tells him he shouldn't touch other people's property. The argument is typed in alternating fonts. Finally, the repentant lizard washes out the garment and hangs it up to dry. After Leon has headed off to sun himself again, a rabbit dressed as a superhero appears. He retrieves his clothing and flies away, wearing his freshly laundered mask. "'Old underpants full of holes. Indeed!'" Di Giacomo's notable collagelike illustrations, rendered in a natural palette of greens, browns, and blues, succinctly portray Leon's turbulent emotions. His expressive features tell the whole story. This brief adventure teaches an unconventional lesson about listening to one's conscience. Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA