Harrison P. Spader, Personal Space Invader. Christianne Jones. Pictures by Cale Atkinson. North Mankato, MN: Picture Window Books/Capstone, August, 2018. 32 pp., hardcover, $18.95. ISBN 978-1-5158-2723-8. Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 4-7. Review by Dave Jenkinson. **½ /4 Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

excerpt:

His family was used to being smothered in love.
They were just that type of family.

But after calls from teachers, coaches and parents,
Harrison's dad knew he had to have a talk with Harrison.

"Harrison, I hear you are having trouble staying in your own space," his dad said.

"Not really. I don't need much space," Harrison replied.

Harrison P. Spader, Personal Space Invader is about learning social norms, particularly those concerning personal space. In the Spader family, consisting of five anthropomorphic hippopotamuses, being up close and personal is the norm for the Spader parents and their three offspring, but, when their son Harrison P. takes the family's behaviors into the larger world, his innocent encroachment into others' personal space in a variety of settings causes them to feel uncomfortable. Because Harrison is unaware that his behaviors are creating discomfiture and distress amongst his animal peers, a number of adults contact Harrison's father about Harrison's space-invading behaviors (see "excerpt"). Harrison's father teaches Harrison a rhyme, "the Space Saver", that his mother had taught him.

Arms out front
then out real wide.
Now place your arms
back by your side.

      Harrison memorizes his grandmother's poem and practices the associated movements. Unfortunately, Harrison treats the Space Saver behavior as an absolute "rule", and consequently he applies it in situations in which it does not apply, such as on crowded fan bleachers. Harrison's dad then receives a new round of complaining calls which causes him to clarify with Harrison the appropriate times in which he should employ the Spacer Saver technique and when he should just "try to stay in [his] own space".

      The closing pages show that Harrison has learned when and where to apply the Space Saver technique, and he now recognizes and honours other people's need for personal space (well, most of the time).

      Whether or not young readers actually recognize and apply the book's "lesson", Harrison P. Spader, Personal Space Invader is still a fun read, one greatly enhanced by Atkinson's cartoon-like illustrations.

Recommended.

Dave Jenkinson, CM's editor, lives in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, contact cm@umanitoba.ca.

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