Verb (depicted in two long pigtails and a red shirt with a V on the front) does things: climbs, slides, twirls. Noun "can't DO like Verb. But Noun can BE." Noun can be a person, place, or thing. Verb is no longer the center of attention, as Interjection, Adjective, and Adverb admire Noun. But when a "giant, frightening" bee comes "dangerously close," and Noun is stuck, Verb HELPS.

The story words as a story as well as a lesson on the parts of speech, making it a fine choice for storytime or, even better, the classroom. Back matter includes parts of speech. ( )

Verb is happy being the active center of attention, until Noun comes along and steals the show with the many people, places and things he can be. She tries to steal the show back, reacting to each of Noun's new manifestations, until a threatening bee approaches, and she realizes that without her intervention, Noun is helpless...

Author Adam Lehrhaupt takes the parts of speech - Noun, Verb, Interjection, Adjective, and Adverb - and crafts a tale of initial jealousy and then budding friendship in Wordplay. I liked the premise here, and think the story could work as an introduction to the functions of the different parts of speech - there is a brief afterword spelling things out explicitly - provided there is some adult guidance available to help younger children with the concepts. The artwork by Jared Chapman is colorful and bright, although not really to my taste. Recommended to those looking for a more creative, story-based introduction to the parts of speech for very young children. ( )