The baby that roared

Simon Puttock

Book - 2012

When a little bundle appears on the Deer's doorstep, Mrs. Deer thinks her wish for a baby has come true while Mr. Deer is more wary, but the little one will not stop roaring and those who try to help keep disappearing.

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jE/Puttock
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Puttock Checked In
Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
Somerville, Mass. : Nosy Crow 2012.
Language
English
Main Author
Simon Puttock (-)
Edition
1st U.S. ed
Item Description
"An imprint of Candlewick Press."
Physical Description
1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 x 28 cm
ISBN
9780763659035
Contents unavailable.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Part of the charm of this mischievous story from Puttock (Little Lost Cowboy) is that readers know more than the main characters, a childless deer couple that don't know how to deal with the baby they find on their doorstep. Mr. and Mrs. Deer can't understand why the baby-which has blue fur, a pair of taped-on antlers, and a lot of teeth-keeps roaring. Their friends try to help, but disappear whenever they are left alone with the baby ("How very peculiar!" say the deer). Shireen is a smart choice to illustrate, given the similarly wicked humor that propelled her Good Little Wolf (2011); her mixed-media art plays up both the baby's maniacal tendencies and the other animals' cluelessness. Characters such as Uncle Duncan (a purple owl) and Auntie Agnes (a blue rabbit) get prim accessories like a beret and scarf-accessories that are all that remain of said characters until the baby burps them up and runs off. The repetitive structure and subversive humor should make this a storytime favorite. Ages 3-up. Agent: Jodie Marsh, United Agents. Illustrator's agent: Penny Holroyde, the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 2-"All babies are beautiful" is a common belief among parents, and Mr. and Mrs. Deer are no exception. The happy couple rejoices when a bundle of joy shows up on their doorstep, as they have always wanted a baby to love. However, though this infant sports antlers, it is not very deerlike-in fact, it's spherical and covered in blue fur. As soon as the Deers take him in, the baby won't stop roaring. Like all new parents, they call a lifeline or two to come and help with the fussy youngster. Unfortunately, when the visitors are left alone with it, they quickly disappear. Granny Bear saves the day; when she burps the little troublemaker, all the other visitors are spit back up. Then the "dear little baby" is revealed to be "a LITTLE MONSTER!" Though the creature scampers off, the Deers' empty nest is refilled when a sweet blue "kitten" shows up at the end of the story. Children will absolutely delight in the silliness of this book. The illustrations are colorful, engaging, and quite funny. Be prepared for hilarity when you turn to the "burp!" spread. A great read-aloud or lap read, this one will have older children checking to see if their younger siblings are what they seem.-Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA (c) Copyright 2012. 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.