Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
An ungainly giraffe stars in U.K.-based author/artist O'Neill's first children's book, and her heavily splattered and speckled gouache-and-collage illustrations help make Geoffrey's every pratfall a real event. The book's title is also its exasperated refrain, and it's deployed whenever Geoffrey does a full body-plant in the dirt ("His legs are wibbly-wobbly... and his knees are bendy-buckly," says the narrator by way of explanation) or makes a spread-eagled splash in the middle of the watering hole. Geoffrey is only trying to be friendly, and he eventually learns that he's better off sticking with treetop-dwelling monkeys and birds than bending down to attempt to hobnob with meerkats and flamingoes. There's a fussy primness to the narration that can feel at odds with the story's slapstick moments, but O'Neill's illustrations do a marvelous job of bringing both Geoffrey and his dusty savannah habitat to life, whether through the dust clouds that erupt as Geoffrey becomes entangled with a herd of elephants; the passel of monkeys clinging playfully to his limbs, neck, and tail; or the resplendently starry sky they gaze into before falling asleep. Ages 3-7. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Geoffrey has an appealing face but the long legs and awkwardness of all young giraffes. His enthusiasm and friendliness are adorable but his clumsiness and size make it almost impossible to share moments with animals small and close to the ground, like meerkats. He finally gives up trying to make friends and heads to his favorite tree for a snack. There, he meets monkeys looking for someone tall to help them up higher and birds looking for friends. His success with these creatures gives Geoffrey just the encouragement he needs. Simple text with random words in bold make this offering as bright and fun as Geoffrey himself. The text and story are not complicated and would be a quick read for parents, teachers, or librarians to share with preschoolers. The highlight of this title are the illustrations that move with Geoffrey and his bright face. The giraffe's excitement jumps off the page, even when he falls.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Young, wobbly-kneed giraffe Geoffrey tries to make friends with other animals, but he's so tall that when he bends down to play, he stumbles and falls. Discouraged, he heads to a tall tree for a snack--and meets a group of monkeys and birds who value him for his height. Frequent shifts in perspective add tension and movement to the mixed-media illustrations. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
