Synopses & Reviews
andlt;b andgt;There is NOTHING boring about being a kid, but one little girl is going to have to prove it in this anything-but-boring picture book from comedian Michael Ian Black.andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Just when a little girl thinks she couldnand#8217;t possibly be more bored, she stumbles upon a potato who turns the tables on her by declaring that children are boring. But this girl isnand#8217;t going to let a vegetable tell her whatand#8217;s what, so she sets out to show the unimpressed potato all the amazing things kids can do. Too bad the potato is anything but interestedand#8230;.andlt;BRandgt;This tongue-in-cheek twist on a familiar topic is sure to entertain anyone whoand#8217;s ever been boredand#8212;or had to hear about someone else being boredand#8212;and is filled with comedian Michael Ian Blackand#8217;s trademark dry wit, accompanied by charismatic illustrations from newcomer Debbie Ridpath Ohi.
Review
andlt;Bandgt;*andlt;/Bandgt; "Black (andlt;Iandgt;A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Ideaandlt;/Iandgt;) keeps this simple concept funny all the way through its final, LOL zinger. Debut illustrator Ohiand#8217;s minimalist, scraggly digital drawings are anything but boring, and speak volumes about irritation, desperation, and disdain."--andlt;Iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt;, andlt;Bandgt;starred andlt;/Bandgt;review
Review
"Genuinely funny moments.... [The
Review
"Black...tells his story in sprightly fashion. The illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi convincingly draws a child full of life, a potato full of and#8212; well, potatotude, and computer drawings that look just like good old-fashioned linocuts. Her smart cartoony artwork matches Blackand#8217;s perfect comic timing, making for a fun ride that should leave you amused, perhaps pensive, and no longer bored."
Review
"Ohiand#8217;s captivating, digitally created illustrations are full of wit and charm.... Quirky and fun to read aloud, this book is a sure antidote for cases of ennui."
Review
A Notable Children's Book Of 2012 The - < -="" i="" -=""> - New York Times - < -="" -=""> - Sunday Book Review
Review
"[Michael Ian] Black, a comedian, has become a fine children's book storyteller.... Readers will not be bored."
Review
"Beautifully written by Michael Ian Black and gorgeously illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi... It has the courage to go unfashionably old-school and suggest that our imagination, not our gadgets, is the only cure [for boredom].... Both the writing and the illustrations are fearless."
Review
"Fans of Mo Willemsand#8217; Elephant and Piggie series will delight in the latest book by American comedian Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Toronto graphic artist Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Echoing Willems, Blackand#8217;s story is constructed around the dialogue of an unlikely couple, in this case a small girl and a potato. The text is perfectly complemented by Ohiand#8217;s quirky minimalist drawings."
Review
"Sometimes a picture book gets it just right. And by 'it,' I mean clever concept, smart execution and all-around child-friendly vibe. Itand#8217;s rare for one of those picture books to have been written by a so-called celebrity authorand#8212;someone who made a name for him or herself in Hollywood and then decided to write childrenand#8217;s booksand#8212;but Michael Ian Black has proven to be the exception to the rule."
Review
A Notable Children's Book Of 2012
Review
"[Michael Ian] Black, a comedian, has become a fine children's book storyteller....
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Genuinely funny moments.... [The
Review
andlt;divandgt;A Notable Children's Book Of 2012andlt;/divandgt;
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Genuinely funny moments.... [The
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Genuinely funny moments.... [The
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Genuinely funny moments.... [The
Review
andlt;divandgt;"Genuinely funny moments.... [The
Review
"Genuinely funny moments.... [The girl] demonstrates cartwheels, ninja kicks and imagination gamesand#8212;lion taming; dragons and swords; forcing the potato to walk a pirate-ship plankand#8212;all of which Ohi sketches in pale blue."--andlt;iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/iandgt;
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;
Review
* andquot;Vernickandrsquo;s tousled-haired hero may feel miserable, but he has the self-awareness, timing, and raconteurship of a master monologist; readers will be won over from his intriguing opening line (andldquo;Iandrsquo;ve been lots of thingsandrdquo;) and quickly assured that this, too, shall pass.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;Cordelland#39;s ink-and-watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the first-person narratorand#39;s every emotion: chagrin, nervousness, embarrassment, sadness, anger. A sure conversation-starter about empathy.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;With cartoonish, frenetic lines and messy blobs of color, the childish feel of Cordelland#39;s illustrations make Vernickand#39;s message clear: school life and friendship can be confusing...Many readers will recognize themselves in these pages.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;Vernickand#39;s tightly wound age-appropriately self-absorbed narrator is hugely relatable, but readers will also get that heand#39;s overdoing it...a riot as well as an analgesic.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine
andquot;This winning picture book will be popular for its entertainment value, as well as for its potential to introduce ideas about empathy.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal
and#160;
Synopsis
There is NOTHING boring about being a kid, but one little girl is going to have to prove it in this anything-but-boring picture book from comedian Michael Ian Black.
Just when a little girl thinks she couldn t possibly be more bored, she stumbles upon a potato who turns the tables on her by declaring that children are boring. But this girl isn t going to let a vegetable tell her what s what, so she sets out to show the unimpressed potato all the amazing things kids can do. Too bad the potato is anything but interested .
This tongue-in-cheek twist on a familiar topic is sure to entertain anyone who s ever been bored or had to hear about someone else being bored and is filled with comedian Michael Ian Black s trademark dry wit, accompanied by charismatic illustrations from newcomer Debbie Ridpath Ohi."
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
A humorous picture book about a first grader who makes a mistake so hugely humiliating (and hilarious) that he can't possibly go back to elementary school.
Synopsis
The first grade narrator of this book has been lots of things: Hungry. Four years old. Crazy bored. Soaking wet. Pretty regular kid . . . until he makes a mistake so big that heandrsquo;s sure he will never be able to go back to Lakeview Elementary School. All readers, even those not in first grade, will find the narratorandrsquo;s feelings familiar, and discover that even though embarrassing things happen, theyandrsquo;re usually not as bad as they seem. And sometimes theyandrsquo;re even funny!
About the Author
Michael Ian Black is a writer, comedian, and actor who has created and starred in many television series, including andlt;iandgt;Michael and Michael Have Issuesandlt;/iandgt;,andlt;iandgt; Stellaandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;The State. andlt;/iandgt;He also starred in the NBC television show andlt;iandgt;Ed andlt;/iandgt;and on VH1andrsquo;s andlt;iandgt;I Love The... andlt;/iandgt;series. He wrote the screenplay for the film andlt;iandgt;Run, Fatboy, Run andlt;/iandgt;and wrote and directed the film andlt;iandgt;Wedding Daze. andlt;/iandgt;Michael regularly tours the country as a stand-up comedian and is the bestselling author of the book andlt;iandgt;My Custom Van (and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face) andlt;/iandgt;and the childrenandrsquo;s books andlt;iandgt;Chicken Cheeksandlt;/iandgt;,andlt;iandgt; The Purple Kangarooandlt;/iandgt;,andlt;iandgt; A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Ideaandlt;/iandgt;,andlt;iandgt; Iandrsquo;m Boredandlt;/iandgt;,andlt;iandgt; Naked!andlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bopandlt;/iandgt;. Michael lives in Connecticut with his wife and two children.Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and illustrates books for young people. andlt;iandgt;Where Are My Books?andlt;/iandgt;, the first book that Debbie has written as well as illustrated, launches in 2015 from Simon andamp; Schuster Books For Young Readers. Her illustrations also appear in picture books andlt;iandgt;Sea-Monkey and Bobandlt;/iandgt; (written by Aaron Reynolds, 2015), andlt;iandgt;Iand#8217;m Bored andlt;/iandgt;(andlt;iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; Notable Book, written by Michael Ian Black) and andlt;iandgt;Naked!andlt;/iandgt; (also written by Michael Ian Black, 2015), as well as ten Judy Blume chapter books and middle grade titles reissued by Atheneum/Simon andamp; Schuster. For more info, visit DebbieOhi.com or @inkyelbows on Twitter.