When I was at the library recently looking for a fresh batch of
children's book to peruse, my friend pointed out the display of
SpongeBob Squarepants books and suggested I take a couple. Neither of us
is reluctant to admit we've watched the show on occasion and found it
amusing, so it was a logical choice, if a little less literary than some
of my other selections.
Bubble Blowers, Beware! is one of several tie-in books to The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie,
and presumably David Lewman was assuming familiarity with the film or
the other books when he wrote this, as it clearly starts in the middle,
leaving the uninitiated like me to feel rather confused.
The
story begins abruptly, with SpongeBob showing his loyal buddy, dimwitted
starfish Patrick, the Patty Wagon, a most attractive vehicle beating a
remarkable resemblance to a burger. SpongeBob explains that this wheeled
sandwich is to be their transportation to Shell City, where they will
seek King Neptune's crown. We don't know why this headgear has gone
missing or why he feels so compelled to find it, and we don't find out;
that's all the context we're going to get.
The bulk of the
short book, which features vibrant, full-page illustrations by Barry
Goldberg throughout, concerns SpongeBob and Patrick having their wagon
stolen by a thug, only to happen upon him later in a pool hall. Upon
going in, they find the culprit and attempt to retrieve the keys while
making lame excuses for their presence, though how this fish fails to
recognize them, I have no idea.
It's almost the end of the
story before we come to the title, and the conflict is so silly as to
hardly merit its own book. But young SpongeBob lovers should get a kick
out of the goofy antics and the vibrant pictures. Older fans might well
complain of a lack of fluidity; the gaps in the story are mostly a
result of presumed prior familiarity, but that doesn't make them any
more welcome.
Bubble Blowers, Beware! is a cute little tie-in book, but as a stand-alone it doesn't hold much water.
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