Review by Booklist Review
From the lush grasses of a vast field, Grasshopper king of the insects commands, Bring me a rock! and his many-legged subjects scurry to comply. Soon the bugs return with large rocks hefted over their heads, ready for the king's inspection. Not just any rock will do, as these are to be used to build a majestic pedestal. A blue rhinoceros beetle, a yellow leaf bug, and a green praying mantis deposit their stony offerings at their snooty sovereign's feet, but a tiny beetle's pebble is callously rejected. Before long the grasshopper is lounging atop his new tower, which starts swaying alarmingly. It seems the king's throne has a pebble-sized problem. Miyares' verdant digital-and-watercolor illustrations bring humor to this tyrannical tale with funny details and open expressions on the insects' faces. Large-scale artwork in bold colors and a minimal text make this easy to share with a group. Consider pairing with Olivier Tallec's Louis I, King of the Sheep (2015) for another example of rulers run amok.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In Miyares's (Float) crisply focused fable, a tyrant of a grasshopper orders his insect subjects to bring him rocks: "I will have a majestic pedestal fit for a king." The insects line up, straining under the weight of their rocks as the grasshopper gives each a bored glance. "Is that the best you've got?" he yawns. A pipsqueak bug with a tiny rock rouses his ire: "I need big rocks, not puny pebbles!" he shouts in big, all-caps type. But when the grasshopper's throne starts to totter, the little bug saves the day, stuffing his rock into a crevice to stabilize it. With the goodwill he earns, the little bug persuades the grasshopper to redistribute the rocks. Equal thrones for all! It's a novel take on how to get along with bullies: rather than defy them, look for an opportunity to gain influence and power-an approach with a certain pragmatic persuasiveness. With its insect-eye perspective, deeply saturated colors, intersecting planes, and unusual angles (from the very top of the throne, for example), Miyares's artwork delivers his message with impact. Ages 4-8. Agent: Studio Goodwin Sturges. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-As in Miyares's Pardon Me!, creatures stand in for humans, allowing the author plenty of latitude to explore less than exemplary behavior. In this leafy world, the grasshopper king's first words are the titular command; he desires a "majestic pedestal." The colorful parade of insects produce a variety of gray rocks that reach toward the sky as the assembly progresses, but the ruler is unimpressed. When the littlest fellow presents his pebble, the king dismisses the offering and the bug in a disdainful rant. The digitally manipulated watercolors portray a verdant habitat. Full-bleed spreads alternate with small cameos on white backgrounds for a pleasing variety. Extreme shifts in perspective enhance the drama-first, the king's enormous body crosses the gutter to stare down at the tiny insect cowering in the corner. Later, the reclining royal sips his drink (replete with a miniature cocktail umbrella) from a dizzying aerial viewpoint. Suddenly, the tower starts to teeter. When the smallest citizen's contribution saves the day, the chagrined king grants him a favor. Ultimately all the insects are elevated to the same level. Children with bossy classmates or siblings will recognize the type, and the situation will certainly be familiar to those who have heard Aesop's fables. VERDICT This artist's engaging caricatures offer a fresh tale replete with humor, as well as a wordless conclusion that is open to interpretation. There is much here to spark classroom discussion about feelings and the role of the silent observers.-Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library © Copyright 2016. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The smallest bug's contribution to the demands of the grasshopper king is at first spurned, but the little bug eventually prevails in more ways than one. The initial double-page spread consists of a bright yellow wash of sky, translucent layers of green plants, and a foreground of brown dirt dappled with sunlight. On the left, atop a single small stone, sits a green-and-orange grasshopper, his head topped by a crown. In bold, capital letters, he commands a cluster of bug subjects: "BRING ME A ROCK!" The grasshopper soon makes it clear that he "will have a majestic pedestal fit for a king." The king shows his sense of entitlement as each peon bug struggles to add a rock to the pile being created for his majesty. Each insect is rendered with an eye for varietal accuracy, yet each also sports a delightful spark of anthropomorphism. Humor and artistry combine, especially in an aerial view of the king atop his new throne, sipping a paper-umbrella-adorned drinkbefore his tower begins to topple. After the littlest bug manages to save the king with a pebble, the king asks how he can repay this now-invaluable subject. The little bug's cleverness literally elevates the status of all the workers to that of the king. Beautifully executed art, expressive bugs, and spare but pointedarguably Marxisttext create a tale for all ages. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
