Lester's Dreadful Sweaters
by K. G. Campbell
Date: 2012
Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd.
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 33
Format: e-book
Source: library
A fastidious fellow, Lester likes everything just so. So when Cousin Clara moves in and knits him truly dreadful sweaters as fast as he can surreptitiously dispose of them, Lester must think of a way to get rid of them for good — or be doomed to look like a clown forever.
(synopsis from Goodreads)
Something about this one made me a little uncomfortable. The poor kid was never allowed to say no and constantly had the grown-ups' wills imposed on him. I'm not sure that's a great message to be sending (kids need to learn about consent, too). Lester was forced to wear all these horrible sweaters; people treated him differently, and he wasn't happy. The more he tried to get rid of the sweaters, the worse the problem got. It was frustrating.
The illustrations were cute (I especially liked Lester's little dog), but I just can't get past the icky feeling this one left me with. Kids need to know that it's okay to say no when something is making them uncomfortable. Lester's parents should've supported him rather than the crazy knitter who, as it turned out, might not have been a cousin after all.
Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 2/5
Overall: 2.5 out of 5
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