Review by New York Times Review
When Sophie, a quintessential 2-year-old who happens to be a mouse, meets her baby sister, she's at a loss for words - really, she utters strange sounds from languages like "jellyfish." (Can you say "regression"?) Her mama and daddy, meanwhile, can't agree on a name: She says Ashleigh, he says Amber. In this third Sophie book (after "Sophie's Terrible Twos" and "Time-Out for Sophie") Wells's lively watercolors and wonderfully laconic take on toddlerhood and family life continue to enchant. WOLFIE THE BUNNY By Ame Dyckman. Illustrated by Zachariah OHora. 40 pp. Little, Brown. $17. (Picture book; ages 3 to 8) Not only does Dot, a tough little bunny in a red hoodie and hip sneakers, have to contend with the baby who appeared on the doorstep, her smitten parents won't acknowledge the problem: He's a wolf. But when a bear threatens Wolfie and Dot comes to his rescue, she sees her brother's gentle nature. It's a funny, heartwarming tale of difference, love and overcoming stereotypes, made indelible by OHora's adorable, offbeat illustrations, with short black brush strokes linking the divergent species. THE NEW SMALL PERSON Written and illustrated by Lauren Child. 32 pp. Candlewick. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) The creator of beloved characters like Charlie and Lola introduces a boy who's doted on by his parents and in sole possession of an awesome room. Then an intruder arrives; he's first boring, then annoying, until the worst happens : "The small person moved its bed into Elmore Green's room." But all changes when his brother climbs into his bed to comfort him after a bad dream. Child is as funny and astute as ever, and it's refreshing to see a black family depicted in her stylish mixed-media art. RODEO RED By Maripat Perkins. Illustrated by Molly Idle. 32 pp. Peachtree. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) This Western take on the new-sibling fiasco hits its mark, to amusing effect ("That scallywag talked nothing but gibberish"). Idle's colored-pencil illustrations burst with playful energy and clever visual storytelling. Cowboy-hatted "Rodeo Red" battles with the baby, "Sideswiping Slim," who has rustled her stuffed dog, Rusty. "The sheriff and her deputy" are no help at all, but salvation arrives in the form of a stuffed cat sent as a gift, which Red cleverly swaps for the kidnapped Rusty. THE BABY SWAP By Jan Ormerod. Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. 32 pp. Little Simon. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) This treat from Ormerod, who died in 2013, is lovingly illustrated by Joyner in madcap retro style. Caroline Crocodile simply can't take Mama Crocodile's constant praise of her dribbly, smelly baby brother (he is gorgeously "green as a grub," and so on). So Caroline decides to trade him in at the Baby Shop. She tries out panda and elephant babies and twin tigers, with terrible results. Then she's offered a "secondhand crocodile" who, after all, is "just right" - with a new tooth that explains the dribbling. ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [March 15, 2015]
Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* When the Bunny family find an adorable baby wolf on their doorstep, Mama and Papa are thrilled. Voice-of-reason Dot says, He's going to eat us all up! And she keeps saying it as Wolfie gets bigger. And bigger! When he eats all the carrots, his parents send him (dressed in a large pink bunny suit) and Dot down to the store, and for a moment, it looks as if her prediction is about to come true at least where she is concerned. But it's not Dot Wolfie is staring at. It's Bear, who, as it turns out, is very hungry and ready to eat Wolfie, pink suit and all. Dot to the rescue! She gets the drop on Bear, who hightails it out of there. Then oh my goodness! Wolfie pounces on Dot. Was she right after all? Nope, it's only to give her a hug. This gets all the elements of the successful picture book just right: a familiar scenario (sibling rivalry), a scary adversary, a display of courage, and a happy ending. And then there's the art! OHora's unique acrylic illustrations have the look and feel of woodcuts. Big and bold, with strong yet simple shapes, the pictures are also intimate enough to capture Wolfie's goofy smile when he gets his pink bunny outfit, and the frightened but fierce expression on Dot's face. A crowd-pleaser for crowds big and small.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dyckman's (Tea Party Rules) rousing, warmhearted story opens as a family of city-dwelling bunnies discover a wolf cub in a basket on their front stoop. "He's going to eat us all up!" cries daughter Dot. But Papa proudly snaps pictures of Wolfie chowing down on carrots ("He's a good eater!"), and Mama's smitten, too. OHora's (Tyrannosaurus Wrecks!) distinctive folk-naïf spreads poke gentle fun at hipster families-Papa and Mama are decked out in cardigans and argyle, while Dot and Wolfie shop at a food coop selling such wares as locally-sourced organic bamboo. More laughs come from the irresistible contrast between Dot's sweet bunny countenance and her furious glares of rage. "I knew it!" she hisses when Wolfie bares his fangs while they're shopping. But he's not baring them at Dot-he's worried about the huge bear behind her. In a gratifying showdown, Dot overpowers the bear ("Let him go!" she yells. "Or... I'll eat you all up!") while Wolfie proves he's not only trustworthy but full of love. Ages 3-6. Author's agent: Scott Treimel, Scott Treimel N.Y. Illustrator's agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-It's bad enough when a new baby usurps your parents' time and affection, but it's worse when you're a bunny and that baby left on the doorstep is a wolf. Dot is convinced the adopted child is going to eat the family up, but her parents are smitten. Just how long can her new baby brother survive on carrots alone? What to do, what to do? In this delightful video presentation, Ame Dyckman's book receives the star treatment. Zachariah OHora's humorous and kid-friendly illustrations have been cleverly animated as the author reads her text with clarity, heart, and tongue firmly in cheek. Original background music creates the perfect mood for this tale of interspecies siblings. VERDICT This is a giggle-worthy presentation that will have even adults snorting at the subtle yet incredibly witty touches. It will be a surefire hit with audiences.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA © Copyright 2017. 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
Interspecies adoption puts a fresh spin on the new-baby theme. Dot is none too pleased when a baby wolf foundling is left on the Bunny family's doorstep, but her totally smitten parents ignore her alarmed cries of "HE'S GOING TO EAT US ALL UP!" Dot doesn't trust Wolfie and balks at his penchant for following her, but he seems to resist any carnivorous impulses. As Wolfie grows, so does his appetite, and his voracious consumption of the family's carrots sends Dot out to replenish their supply. Wolfie follows, clad in pink footie pajamas with bunny ears, but his cuteness doesn't soften Dot's attitude, and she scowls as she marches ahead of him. At the market, however, Wolfie's presence is a boon to his reluctant big sister when a big, hungry bear lunges toward them yelling, "DINNER!" The text's humor keeps scariness in check, as does the flat, cartoonish aesthetic of OHora's acrylic paintings. Their bold outlines give the pictures enormous energy and vibrancy, and comical touches (such as the big bear's T-shirt, emblazoned with the words yummy bunny) match the text's tone. The siblings' cooperation and triumph over the bear prompt a reconciliation, and they venture off, paw in paw, to eat their newly purchased carrots. A treat of a picture book. megan dowd lambert (c) Copyright 2015. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A tongue-in-cheek tale of a wolf in Bunny clothing.The Bunnys live in a garden-level (which is Brooklyn for "basement") apartment and come home one day to find a basket holding a baby wolf at their door. Young Dot grasps the situation right away: "HE'S GOING TO EAT US ALL UP!" she exclaims. But Mama and Papa are charmed by how much he eats and how well he sleeps and even how well he drools (on Dot). Dot sticks to her line, however, even when her little brothernow much bigger than she is and clad in a giant pink bunny suitaccompanies her to the Carrot Patch, the local organic co-op. There in the produce department is a bear! He thinks Wolfie is dinner! Dot fiercely and feistily defends her brother, and when the bear dismisses her as a bunny and announces he is bigger, she responds that she's HUNGRY and she will start munching on the bear's TOES. The bear runs away; the siblings go home. It's pretty adorable. OHora's stark acrylics, with strong black line and accents, make use of few colors (shades of red, gray and gold) to good effect. Dot's perpetual scowl is particularly acute. Add to the growing collection of sibling stories, adoptive and otherwise, that delight and instruct. (artist's note, author's note) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
