Review - I Have to Go!

I Have to Go!
by Robert Munsch
illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Date: 1986
Publisher: Annick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Andrew's mother and father always ask very clearly if Andrew needs to go pee, and his answer is always, "No, no, no, no!" Unfortunately, that answer never seems to last long!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This one was just okay for me. The premise of the exasperating kid who doesn't have to go until he really has to go is probably relatable for many parents. However, I wasn't quite sure what the resolution was supposed to be; it seemed abrupt and didn't make a lot of sense. If a kid is stubborn enough to pee in his own bed, it's going to take more than some inexplicable change of heart to give his parents some relief.

The pictures are cute, as they usually are with Martchenko's work. But the combination of the short length plus the lack of any real explanation for the ending made this one just so-so.

Quotable moment:

So they put on Andrew's snowsuit. It had five zippers, 10 buckles and 17 snaps. It took them half an hour to get the snowsuit on.

Andrew walked out into the back yard, threw one snowball and yelled, "I HAVE TO GO PEE."

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5