Synopses & Reviews
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor?
Author Beth Ferry makes a memorable debut with a warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. New York Times bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; In this funny story about kindness and friendship, Stick and Stone join George and Martha, Frog and Toad, and Elephant and Piggie, as some of the best friend duos in childrenandrsquo;s literature.
Review
"From the dynamic team that brought you Duck! Rabbit! (2009) comes this introduction to the most exuberant punctuation mark of all: the exclamation point. At first, !, a round circle with a face, doesn’t like standing out in a crowd; in a line-up of seven smiling faces, which look like period marks, he’s the only one with a line above his head. ! tries clever ways to fit in (flipping himself upside down, thereby squashing his tail) and even thinks about running away, until he meets a formidable force: the question mark. After a barrage of questions from ? (“Do you like frogs? Can you hula-hoop?”), ! finds his voice and tells him to “STOP!” From there, !’s confidence begins to grow and, soon, there’s no stopping his unbridled joy. The spare, clever illustrations—all round, black-outlined punctuation marks with faces—are set on thick lined-paper, the kind kindergarteners use, and the overall design effect is lovely. The text is similarly simple, but a change in the size and color of the font signifies important moments. With the
celebrating-your-strengths angle, fun grammar lesson, and many classroom tie-in possibilities, this picture book deserves a !!!."
— Ann Kelley, Booklist starred review
"Punctuation with pizzazz.
How does an exclamation mark learn his purpose? Pre-readers and readers alike will giggle and cheer to see the process. The setting is a warm yellowish beige background with a faint pulpy pattern and repeating horizontal lines with dotted lines halfway between them—penmanship paper. Each bold, black punctuation mark has a minimalist yet expressive face inside its circular dot. “He stood out,” explains the first page, as the titular protagonist looks on doubtfully. He tries hanging around with periods, but squishing his extension down into a spring doesn’t really work; even prostrate, “he just wasn’t like everyone else. Period.” (Hee! Rosenthal gleefully puns instead of naming any punctuation.) Mournful, “confused, flummoxed, and deflated,” the exclamation mark’s line tangles and flops. Then someone unexpected arrives. “Hello? Who are you?” queries the newbie, jovially pummeling the exclamation mark with 17 manic inquiries at once. “Stop!” screams the exclamation mark in enormous, bumpy-edged letters—and there’s his identity! The outburst’s anxious vibe dissipates immediately (and the question mark is undaunted by being yelled at). Finally, the protagonist has “[broken] free from a life sentence.” Snapping up usages that match his newfound personality, he zooms back to show the other punctuation marks. The zippy relationship between exclamation mark and question mark continues beyond the acknowledgements page." - Kirkus starred review
"Through a perfect pairing of clever design and tongue-in-cheek humor, Rosenthal and Lichtenheld effectively demonstrate the function of the exclamation mark (as well as the period and question mark) in this tale about a depressed punctuation mark that just doesn’t fit in. On an unadorned backdrop of lined paper, several periods and one exclamation mark are lined up in a row. Clearly, he stands out in a crowd. Like Elmer in David McKee’s classic tale, the exclamation mark struggles with his difference and tries to blend in. When the downcast punctuation meets a question mark who overwhelms him with inquiries, our hero finally finds his voice and tells the other to “Stop!” From there, he builds his confidence in making declarative statements and leaves the group “to make his mark.” Rosenthal shines in her play on words (“It was like he broke free from a life sentence”). Lichtenheld’s minimalist style is deceivingly simple; a curlicue or crumpled line, combined with an amazingly impressive circle with eyes and a mouth, is all that’s needed to convey emotion when the exclamation mark is “confused, flummoxed, and deflated.” This fun-to-read tale will find a ready home in language-arts lessons, reminding burgeoning elementary-age writers which punctuation personality belongs in which type of sentence–without the tedium that accompanies traditional grammar lessons. This one is a must-have!!! – School Library Journal starred review (Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, Farmington Hills, MI)
Review
andquot;These two characters are a delight to know...and the irresistible cadence of the text should make this a repeat favorite.andquot;
andmdash;Booklistand#160;
Review
andquot;These two characters are a delight to know...and the irresistible cadence of the text should make this a repeat favorite.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
* andrdquo;This warm and tender story of two BFFs is made even more enjoyable by the charming, textured tan and blue illustrations . . . the text, suitable for beginning readers, sweetly expresses what it is to be and to have a good friend.andrdquo;
andmdash;School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;Ferry adds zip to the best-friends-forever theme with plenty of sly puns...and Lichtenheld conveys significant expressiveness through the charactersandrsquo; dot eyes and small smiles...The use of instantly recognizable objects as characters gives the story universal appeal, and Ferry makes its moral unmissable.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;A light, enjoyable approach to a recognizable narrative about makingandmdash;and helpingandmdash;friends.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;Preschoolers looking for a model of good friendship need look no further. Kindness rules the day, and humor, rather than obvious lesson-teaching, moves the story along.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine
Review
* andquot;The wordplay is kid-pleasingly silly with a tiny whiff of sophistication...children will never hear andldquo;eat your vegetablesandrdquo; the same way againandquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine, starred review
* andquot;In a linguistic landscape where literally can mean figuratively and flammable and inflammable are interchangeable, Bellandrsquo;s story celebrates the idea that language changes, and pedants who canandrsquo;t adapt will be left in the dust (or in a donkeyandrsquo;s belly).andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;This irreverent, animated outing fairly begs to be read aloud, and children will demand repeat readings.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
and#160;
Synopsis
He stood out here.
He stood out there.
He tried everything to be more like them.
It's not easy being seen. Especially when you're NOT like everyone else. Especially when what sets you apart is YOU.
Sometimes we squish ourselves to fit in. We shrink. Twist. Bend. Until -- -- a friend shows the way to endless possibilities.
In this bold and highly visual book, an emphatic but misplaced exclamation point learns that being different can be very exciting Period.
Synopsis
From the bestselling creators of Duck Rabbit , an exciting tale of self-discovery
A perfect gift for graduation He stood out here. He stood out there. He tried everything to be more like them. It's not easy being seen. Especially when you're NOT like everyone else. Especially when what sets you apart is YOU.Sometimes we squish ourselves to fit in. We shrink. Twist. Bend. Until -- -- a friend shows the way to endless possibilities. In this bold and highly visual book, an emphatic but misplaced exclamation point learns that being different can be very exciting Period.
Synopsis
From the bestselling creators of Duck! Rabbit!, an exciting tale of self-discovery!
He stood out here.
He stood out there.
He tried everything to be more like them.
It's not easy being seen. Especially when you're NOT like everyone else. Especially when what sets you apart is YOU.
Sometimes we squish ourselves to fit in. We shrink. Twist. Bend. Until -- ! -- a friend shows the way to endless possibilities.
In this bold and highly visual book, an emphatic but misplaced exclamation point learns that being different can be very exciting! Period.
Synopsis
Confusion abounds when aand#160;poorly spoken donkeyand#160;says to aand#160;grammarian yam,and#160;"I Yam a Donkey!"
Synopsis
Even frustrated grammarians will giggle at the whoandrsquo;s-on-first routine that begins with a donkeyandrsquo;s excited announcement, andldquo;I yam a donkey!andrdquo; Unfortunately the donkeyandrsquo;s audience happens to be a yam, and one who is particular about sloppy pronunciation and poor grammar. An escalating series of misunderstandings leaves the yam furious and the clueless donkey bewildered by the yamandrsquo;s growing (and amusing) frustration. The yam finally gets his point across, but regrettably, heandrsquo;s made the situation a little bit too clear . . . and the story ends with a dark and outrageously funny twist.
Synopsis
Stick and Stone are sticking together in this hilarious and heart-warmingand#160;picture book that proves once and for all why best friends ROCK!
Video
About the Author
Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld are the creators of many books for children. Their hugely popular DUCK! RABBIT! was named one of the best books of the year by Time Magazine and Publishers Weekly. Amy is the author of PLANT A KISS, a New York Times Bestseller, illustrated by Peter Reynolds. Tom's GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE, written by Sherri Duskey Rinker, was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Please visit www.whoisamy.com and www.tomlichtenheld.com. Both live in Chicago.
Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld are the creators of many books for children. Their hugely popular DUCK! RABBIT! was named one of the best books of the year by Time Magazine and Publishers Weekly. Amy is the author of PLANT A KISS, a New York Times Bestseller, illustrated by Peter Reynolds. Tom's GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE, written by Sherri Duskey Rinker, was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Please visit www.whoisamy.com and www.tomlichtenheld.com. Both live in Chicago.