From School Library Journal
K-Gr 3—Mutant potato brothers Rot and Snot have a competition to decide who is the greatest in the world, to be judged by their little sister, Tot. When neither a potato sack race nor a game of hot potato produces a winner, they have a laugh-off, with an unexpected result. Potato puns abound in "spudtacular" fashion, and Clanton's characters have many more expressions than Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Enthusiastic early riser Rot is medium-sized and brownish, grumpy Snot is larger and greener, and "super chipper." Tot is the smallest, with yellowish skin and a blue and white polka-dotted bow (which matches the endpapers). Five short chapters, followed by "Spudtacular Facts and Fun," introduce readers to Clanton's new characters, who are just as silly and appealing as Narwhal and Jelly. Back matter includes step-by-step instructions for how to draw Rot. VERDICT An excellent addition where early reader graphic novels are popular (that is, everywhere).—Jenny Arch
Review
"Delightfully goofy...Clanton, of Narwhal and Jelly fame, brings puns aplenty to this starchy offering, and the characters here have a bit more of a mischievous bite to them than the underwater crew of those titles....Fans of Clanton’s other duo will be glad to meet this trio of tubers." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ― November 2022
"Chock-full of spudtacular puns and a feel-good surprise ending, Clanton offers a delightful laugh-on-every-page early chapter book for kids ready to tackle longer stories but with very simple text and visual context clues. The graphic novel elements interspersed throughout the standard illustrated text will hold great appeal for young readers." -- Booklist ― November 1, 2022
"Comically emphatic dialogue, wry narrator commentary, and raucous mixed-media cartooning—including potato stamps—depicts the one-spudmanship. ...Extending his impressive track record of funny geniality, Clanton renders the characters with earnest expressions" -- Publisher's Weekly ― October 10, 2022
"Just as silly and appealing as Narwhal and Jelly....An excellent addition where early reader graphic novels are popular (that is, everywhere)" -- School Library Journal ― October 2022
Mutant potato brothers Rot and Snot have a competition to decide who is the greatest in the world, to be judged by their little sister, Tot. When neither a potato sack race nor a game of hot potato produces a winner, they have a laugh-off, with an unexpected result. Potato puns abound in “spudtacular” fashion, and Clanton’s characters have many more expressions than Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Enthusiastic early riser Rot is medium-sized and brownish, grumpy Snot is larger and greener, and “super chipper.” Tot is the smallest, with yellowish skin and a blue and white polka-dotted bow (which matches the endpapers). Five short chapters, followed by “Spudtacular Facts and Fun,” introduce readers to Clanton’s new characters, who are just as silly and appealing as Narwhal and Jelly. Back matter includes step-by-step instructions for how to draw Rot.
VERDICT An excellent addition where early reader graphic novels are popular (that is, everywhere).–Jenny Arch -- School Library Journal ― October 2022
"This tater trio, and worm, will keep readers laughing, singing, and cheering from the first page to the last." -- Kirkus Reviews ― September 15, 2022
About the Author
Ben Clanton is a lot like a mutant potato. He too enjoys mud, eating stuff, and playing games. When Ben isn’t doing these things (and sometimes when he is), he likes to make books. Books like the Tater Tales series, It Came in the Mail, Something Extraordinary, and the New York Times bestselling Narwhal and Jelly series. See what he is up to at BenClanton.com.
