WET

A young boy describes the ways and places that he gets wet in his world.

From a dip in the pool to splashing in a puddle to enjoying his pets’ sloppy kisses, with quite a few damp diversions along the way, Sookocheff’s unnamed, pale-skinned first-person narrator catalogs his experience with liquids. He notes that sometimes he gets wet slowly, as when he starts his time at the swimming pool by dipping just his toes in; other times it happens fast, as when a cannonball dive makes a big splash. Sometimes it’s voluntary—and fun. Other times, getting wet doesn’t feel so good and brings on tears. Luckily his dad’s there to comfort him (and get wet himself). Getting wet and dirty leads to a bath: getting wet to get clean. Speaking directly to readers about everyday experiences, the text is convincingly childlike and pleasingly immediate. The simple yet expressive illustrations feature round-headed, swoopy-armed people and large swathes of subdued, opaque blues, grays, and greens. They mirror the action and match the low-key tone of the narrative perfectly. There’s gentle humor, compelling (but comfortingly minor) angst, and a loving family to keep the boy safe through his adventures.

An intriguing approach to exploring a familiar natural phenomenon, this will appeal to thoughtful young listeners who may want to share their own experiences in response.