Official Review: Cornelius Cone and Friends 2
- kandscreeley
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Official Review: Cornelius Cone and Friends 2

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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- Gabriel Merêncio
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That's a very good question. Now I have to go look at the other books to see what else you can say about cones. Thanks!
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I agree. They are definitely different protagonists. Unique is good where children are concerned though.
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I agree. I hadn't really seen a story featuring a safety cone. It's unique, and kids would like it. Thanks.
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- kandscreeley
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Whatever works to get kids to read and be safe! Thanks.Miriam Molina wrote: ↑07 Oct 2019, 16:25 Children's book authors are really diversifying! Now, even signs can talk and teach.![]()
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- kandscreeley
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You're right. Safety isn't a very fun topic, but the author makes it enjoyable. I'm glad your daughter liked this one. Make sure to check out the others in the series.LianaMayhew wrote: ↑07 Oct 2019, 18:20 My daughter loved this book! I must say I agree with her. Making safety sound fun isn't easy, but the author has done a great job and with such amazing imagination to have talking signs! Thank you for the review.
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It's cute for sure and quite educational. I recommend it, though the author could do a bit of editing. Thanks!
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Well, there are other books about the cone. Perhaps, he expects children to pick them up. In any case, it was a fun book.Laura Bach wrote: ↑09 Oct 2019, 07:56 The idea of using cones and wet floor signs seems original, but how can the author not mention what happened to the cone? Thank you for letting me know about this book! Great review!
—Neil Gaiman