3 out of 4 stars
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Cornelius Cone and Wet Floor try to avoid accidents. Cornelius Cone warns danger is nearby with his bright colors. Wet Floor's job is to attend to any spillages in the supermarket, helping to avoid any slipping. However, Sam isn't paying attention to his surroundings. Will Cornelius and Wet Floor be able to keep him safe?
Cornelius Cone and Friends 2 by Steve Boyce is a children's book. The cover is eye-catching with most of the main characters pictured. It is longer than a picture book but too short for a chapter book. This would be good for that transition period between the two. The book is the second in a series, but I wasn't lost in spite of not having read it; it acts as a stand-alone.
The illustrations are drawn by the author, and they are extremely colorful. They would tantalize anyone whose attention wanders. There was an even mix of pictures to words with about one drawing per page. The font is a typical black, which could use more variety and life to further entice small readers.
I did enjoy the themes presented within the plot. Cornelius and his friends teach us to be aware of our surroundings in a fun way. We also learn more about cones and wet floor signs.
I enjoyed that the characters were unique. Not only was there a cone and a wet floor sign but also a grocery store "trolley" and people like the postman. The perspective might be a little confusing to kids because we switch from Cornelius to Wet Floor halfway through. The purpose is clear in the story, but small inquiring minds might wonder what happened to the cone (he doesn't really reenter the plot).
While the editing wasn't horrendous, it wasn't as clean as I'd like in a children's book. The author seemed to prefer using commas instead of periods within dialogue. It's a stylistic choice, but it wouldn't be my preference. For example, Pete the Postman says, "That's ok Wet Floor, I understand, I will save the story for another day, get well soon." There were also a few other issues like a missing apostrophe and an overlooked space.
Overall, Cornelius Cone and Friends 2 deserves 3 out of 4 stars. It's a fun read that teaches a good lesson, but the confusion with the change in characters and imperfect editing detract from its perfection. I recommend this to children and parents in the mood for a colorful, fun read with an important message.
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Cornelius Cone and Friends 2
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