The Bomb that Followed Me Home – Cevin Soling & Steve Kille (Ill.)

©2007 Monk Media, New York

Disguised as a children’s book, Cevin Soling presents a cautionary tale about bringing home a stray. On his way home from school one day the narrator notices something following him. He tries to avoid being followed even by cutting through the crotchety old neighbors’ yard.

The answer from Mom (and Dad when he arrives home) to the question of keeping the object is “no.” Mom insists that the bomb might have an owner who misses it. Failing to assuage the feelings of the narrator that way, she insists – as does every parent trying to avoid a new pet – that the child will soon neglect his duties in caring for the bomb. The tale is the third in a collection of “fairly twisted fairy tales” that will surely bring a smile and even a stifled guffaw from the reader.

The artwork of Steve Kille is the perfect companion to Soling’s tale of “ka-BOOM!”

Need a quick sardonic pick me up? Then this book is for you. If you have trouble unpacking your sense of humor, I’d leave this one on the shelf. (three and one-half reading glasses for the pure pleasure of it)

—Benjamin Potter, January 12, 2009