Synopses & Reviews
This is the story of how the ultimate reluctant reader became a book lover. The little boy in I Will Not Read This Book has a lot of excuses, because if there is one thing he doesnand#8217;t want to do, itand#8217;s read this book. He wonand#8217;t read it even if you hang him upside down by one toe, over a cliff, with sharks down below. And you know what? You. Canand#8217;t. Make. Him. In this book illustrated with wit and whimsy by Joy Ang, Cece Meng delivers once again with a pitch-perfect reluctant reader who is finally convinced to read the book ifand#8212;and only ifand#8212;someone he loves will read it with him.
Review
"The story includes more than 20 fun words like 'shenanigans' and 'defenestration' set in bold type; their definitions are on the endpapers."
and#8212;School Library Journal
"Here's hoping that there are more kerfuffles and shenanigans in the future for this undeniably delightful duo."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
"This is the perfect way to introduce bigger words to your littlest kids, which is great if you're feeling tricksy."
and#8212;The Huffington Post
Review
and#147;Mabel blows a bubble that envelops her baby brother, gently wafting him all over the village, causing shock and excitement among the population. Chrysta and Greville Gribble, Tybal and his mother Sybil, the crabby Copples, feeble Mrs. Treeble and Canon Dapple come up with an improbable plan to catch the bubbled baby. Meanwhile, mischievous rebel Abel bursts the bubble with his slingshot and the villagers gallantly come to the rescue by catching him in a quilt. The action moves with breathless frenzy. Mahy is a master at creating verse that is as light and airy as the babyand#8217;s bubble. Filled with lovely Briticisms, alliterative nonsense words, double, triple and internal rhymes, itand#8217;s meant to be read aloudand#151;and#145;Again!and#8217;and#151;and will lead both breathless readers and listeners to delighted giggles. The text floats across the pages in waves and arcs, and Dunbarand#8217;s joyous watercolor-andand#150;cut-paper illustrations are wonderfully expressive, a visual treat moving apace with the text. A frothy, effervescent gift.and#8221;and#151;Kirkus Reviews, STARRED reviewand#147;Bubble, bubble, tongue-twisting trouble! When Mabel blows a bubble, it causes a bit of troubleand#151;in the inimitable Mahy way. The rhythm and rhyme of her newest exuberant offering has echoes of the and#145;bibble-bubble-babbleand#8217; of her older 17 Kings and 42 Elephants (rev. 9/87) with added tongue-stumbling internal rhymes to keep even the most accomplished storyteller on her toes. Little Mabeland#8217;s bubble surrounds Baby and takes him on an adventure of amazing heights. The whole town is alarmed as the bobbling bubble floats farther astray, but happy Baby is comfortably enthralled with his birdand#8217;s-eye view of the commotion. Dunbarand#8217;s cut-paper and watercolor full-page illustrations are entirely faithful to the lively tale. Every little detail of this raucous story is depicted in the dramatic spreadsand#151;a good thing, as the words are a pleasant stretch for lap listeners. Who wouldnand#8217;t love the sound of nefarious, cavorting, grapple, and the like tripping off the readerand#8217;s tongue? The suspense builds in both words and pictures, and little onesand#8217; eyes will be as round as the bubble. Read this aloud and expect a lot of giggles and calls for a repeat performance. It will take a few readings to get through without stumbling, but that only adds to the fun.and#8221;and#151;Horn Book, STARRED reviewand#160;and#147;A truckload of trouble and mountains of mayhem ensue when young Mabel blows a bubble that enfolds her baby brother and carries him aloft. He is pursued by his frantic mother and sister,and#145;crumpled Mr. Copple and his wife,and#8217; and#145;feeble Mrs. Threeble,and#8217; and#145;Greville Gribble,and#8217; the chapel choir, and other townsfolk. The text floats in waves along with the bouncing baby across the energetic watercolor and cut-paper spreads. Dressed in stripes and plaids, nightshirts and jogging suits, the crowd sprints along through backyards and gardens, gesticulating wildly as the smiling infant floats by. Eventually, the rescuers form a human ladder to reach him. But Abel, and#145;a rascal and a rebel,and#8217; performs a dastardly deed with his slingshot and the people watch in horror as the baby plummets through the air. It takes three page turns for readers to reach the delightful resolution of this perilous predicament. There is no mistaking the babyand#8217;s happy landing as his smiling face and waving arms and feet fill the spread. This tale, with its over-the-top silliness, is a storyhour gem. And with some practice, the rhyme, alliterative phrases, and names will fall trippingly off the tongue. Fabulous fun!and#8221;and#151;School Library Journal, STARRED reviewand#160;and#147;Mahy is clearly in love with language here, as she offers a text that flounces and bounces like the baby in the bubble. . . . Children will find their ears perking up at the tongue-twisting text, and they may become word lovers, too, after listening to this.and#8221;and#151;Booklist and#160;and#147;An ebullient cocktail of sweetness and absurdity. . . . Readers-aloud will have as much fun as listeners with this frothy confection, so get ready to let that baby bounce.and#8221;and#151;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"Oh, yes, you will read this book. Youand#8217;ll be reeled in by the feisty, angular, frequently exciting digital illustrations, not to mention that confrontational title."and#8212;Booklist "Suggest[s] that sharing a book with a parent can be reassuring, and [the] cheerful use of imagination makes for an enjoyable read." and#8212;School Library Journal
Synopsis
Petey is enjoying a peaceful afternoon of gardening when his good friend Pru starts to cause trouble. Petey reacts in turn, and before long, things have escalated from a scuffle to a tussle to a true hullabaloo!
This beautifully illustrated story about the true meaning of friendship is packed with excitement and near disaster as well as vocabulary-expanding words that are fun to say and thrilling to master. Glossary.
Synopsis
Mischief and mayhem abound in this exuberantly illustrated ode to friendship.
Synopsis
Another hilarious rhyming romp from the team who brought us the popular DOWN THE BACK OF THE CHAIR.
When little Mabeland#8217;s bubble gets away from her, itand#8217;s her baby brother who gets into trouble. Soon heand#8217;s floating out of the house, above the fence, and all over town! And itand#8217;s up to Mabel, Mother, and the rest of the townspeople to get him safely back down. Who knew that so much trouble could come from one little bubble?
About the Author
Margaret Mahy lived in New Zealand and was internationally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding childrenand#8217;s writers of her day. She was the author of more than two hundred books for children of all ages, two of which receivedandnbsp;England's Carnegie Medal and others of which have garnered numerous citations from the American Library Association. She was also the recipient of an Order of New Zealand, the highest honor a citizen can receive. In 2006 she receivd the Hans Christian Andersen award for her contributions to international children's literature. Polly Dunbar is the author and illustrator of Penguin, Dogandnbsp;Blue, and Flyaway Katie (all published by Candlewick). She is also the illustrator of Margaret Mahy's Down the Back of the Chair.andnbsp;She studied illustration at Brightandnbsp;Art School and now lives and works in Brighton, England.andnbsp;