Synopses & Reviews
McToad likes Thursdays. Why? Because on every other day of the week, McToad mows Big Island, but on Thursdays, McToad mows Tiny Island. To do so, he puts his mower on the back of a truck, which drives to a train, which goes to a helicopter, which flies to a boat, which uses a crane to put the lawn mower onto Tiny Island. There McToad mows and drinks some lemonade, and before you know it, itandrsquo;s time to turn around and go back home. But first, the mower has to get lifted by a crane, to get put back on a boat, which is lifted by a helicopter, and . . . well . . . you get the idea.
From master storyteller Tom Angleberger and celebrated illustrator John Hendrix comes this playful narrative that treasures the journey over the destination, with lots of planes, trains, and automobiles to boot.
Review
A BookPage Best Children's Book of 2013 and#160; "He does not want to go to town, buy a hat or wear a feather. But his horse is quite persuasive."
and#8212;People magazine, Best New Kids' Books and#160; "Best-seller Angleberger of Origami Yoda fame takes on picture books, treating a younger audience to his dry and zany wit. . . . A historical hoot full of goofy, eye-rolling goodness."
and#8212;Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"As concepts for picture books go, it's hard to think of one cleverer than this absurdist deconstruction of the familiar song. . . . Readers will cheerfully hum their way through the giddily imagined argument and resolution."
and#8212;Horn Book, starred review
"By book's end, both characters have had meltdowns, prompting a Yankee change of heart and a comically anachronistic trip to town that will have readers laughing."
and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"In this laugh-out-loud reworking of 'Yankee Doodle,'. . . [Angelberger], author of the Origami Yoda series puts a witty, accessible spin on the familiar song, while Bell's bright, bold gouache images extend the zany humor."
and#8212;Booklist
"Crankee's grouchy diatribes and his pony's affable responses make for a great read-aloud, especially when paired with a sing-along of the classic tune."
and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
andquot;Hendrixand#39;s richly detailed, brightly colored spreads make the book visually engaging.andquot;
Review
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;Anglebergerandrsquo;s sly charmer is a gift to any reader besotted with engines, motors, and combustible fuel...Itandrsquo;s an unabashed celebration of the pleasure of using big machines to move things aroundandmdash;just because.andquot;
Synopsis
Find out just why this Yankee was so cranky in this hilarious take on a traditional nonsense song
every child learns in school but doesnand#8217;t understand.
Synopsis
Yankee Doodle went to towna-riding on a pony
stuck a feather in his hat
and called it macaroni. . . . Ever wonder what this song means, exactly?
And whats with the macaroni? Turns out it didnt make any sense to
Mr. Doodle, either. In fact, it made him
pretty, um, you guessed it. Find out just why this Yankee was so cranky
in this hilarious take on
a traditional nonsense song
every child learns in school
but doesnt understand.
Synopsis
and#8220;Yankee Doodle went to town / a-riding on a pony / stuck a feather in his hat / and called it macaroni.and#8221; Many know the song and#8220;Yankee Doodle Dandy,and#8221; but few understand it. This unapologetically silly picture book reveals that the legendary ride to town (and the whole macaroni thing) was all suggested by Mr. Doodleand#8217;s overeager pony. This just makes Mr. Doodle cranky: and#8220;I do not want macaroni. I do not want a feather. I do not want any other clothing, any other pasta, or any other parts of a bird. I do not want anything that they have in town!and#8221; A historical note ends this colorful, comical take on a nonsensical old song.
Synopsis
and#160; A laugh-out-loud field guide to the troublesome Grumpasaurus, a scaly and pouty (but cute) creature, prone to outrageous tantrums, who serves as a stand-in for a cranky child.and#160;
About the Author
Edward Hemingway is the author-illustrator of the picture books Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship and Bad Appleandrsquo;s Perfect Day, and the illustrator of two popular adult books, Of All the Gin Joints and Hemingway and Baileyand#39;s Bartending Guide to Great American Writers. A grandson of Ernest Hemingway, he is originally from Bozeman, Montana and now lives and works in Brooklyn.