Review by Booklist Review
Something scary has invaded Rabbit's burrow. In this witty cumulative tale, Rabbit, Cat, Bear, and Elephant one by one are frightened by the awful Giant Jumperee. Each animal thinks it knows how to get rid of the menace, until the terrifying, unseen foe scares it away with loud threats. A cheerful, rhyming text keeps preschoolers in on the fun, giving them reassurance that nothing too terrible is hiding in the darkness. The simple characters and repetitive action make this story well suited to interactive interpretation, such as readers' theater or other listener-participation activities. Oxenbury's finely detailed illustrations, with a classic look of soft watercolors and pastels, depict the animals as friendly but bemused, all wanting to help solve Rabbit's problem. Ultimately, small Mama Frog, with that long-suffering expression shared by mothers everywhere, stands up to the creature . . . which turns out to be a prankster Baby Frog. The joke at the end nicely grounds the story in the preschool world, where readers will love that the baby fooled all the others.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Some unseen ghoul or monster is occupying Rabbit's burrow. "I'm the Giant Jumperee," it announces from inside, "and I'm scary as can be!" Rabbit's pals each offer to rout the villain, but the Giant Jumperee knows exactly which anxiety button to push (Bear is told "I'll sting you like a bee!") and they retreat. That leaves Mama Frog, who employs the most powerful weapon in a mother's arsenal: counting to three. Out bounces her very own Baby Frog ("Hello, Mama! I'm the Giant Jumperee!"), elated and unapologetic at having snookered the grownups. It's as slight as a story can be, but Donaldson knows that less really can be more, and her straightforward, occasionally rhyming narration is all the setup her peerless collaborator needs. Oxenbury paints Mama Frog as a don't-mess-with-me matriarch whose decisive physicality-hands planted on hips, belly thrust forward, eyes focused like a laser-instantly establishes her as a force to be reckoned with. That she turns a bit sheepish when her offspring is revealed to be the source of the hubbub (her look heavenward is priceless) just makes her more of a superstar. Ages 3-5. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Toddler-PreS-When Rabbit hears a booming voice coming from his burrow, from someone who claims to be the Giant Jumperee, he's terrified. Cat, Bear, and Elephant each attempt to investigate but are sent running by the unseen occupant. Luckily, Mama Frog puts things right and reveals that the Giant Jumperee isn't nearly as terrifying as he sounds. Though the ending will be predictable to adults, it will elicit giggles of delight from the youngest readers and listeners. With just a few sentences per page, a repetitive narrative, and large illustrations that fill each spread, this straightforward tale will make for a lively and effective group read-aloud. Oxenbury is in fine form here. Sweet but never cloying, her soft watercolor images make excellent use of texture and shading, and her animals are utterly expressive: timid Rabbit hunches over in fear, determined Cat stalks toward the burrow with a frown, dazed Bear gazes up in shock, rattled Elephant wraps his trunk around a tree branch, and stern Mama Frog stands with arms akimbo as she summons the Giant Jumperee. Donaldson's spare text is perfect for read-alouds, and the title character's dialogue is full of catchy rhymes. VERDICT Little ones will clamor for this one again and again. A lovely option for storytime or one-on-one sharing, especially for collections seeking materials for the younger set.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal © Copyright 2017. 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 Horn Book Review
A strange creature is holed up in Rabbit's burrow, scaring animals away with fierce rhyming threats (e.g., "I'm the GIANT JUMPEREE and I'll squash you like a flea"). Mama Frog finally orders the Giant Jumperee to come out, revealing her own mischievous child. Oxenbury's expertly rendered illustrations, with their spot-on body language and facial expressions, lend an extra layer of comedy to this entertaining tale. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Rabbit, Cat, Bear, and Elephant are afraid of a voice coming out of Rabbit's burrow, but Mama Frog solves the mystery."Rabbit was hopping home one day when he heard a loud voice: I'm the GIANT JUMPEREE and I'm scary as can be!' " A gentle, pastel-hued watercolor setting lies behind the upright, taken-aback Rabbit on verso and the grassy entrance to his burrow on recto. When Rabbit cries for help, Cat (a female) volunteers to "slink inside and pounce"until the voice calls out again, repeating "I'm the GIANT JUMPEREE and I'll squash you like a flea!" As each of the aforementioned animals goes to the next one for help, they all stay near the burrow, anxiously awaiting the appearance of the voice's mysterious owner, which issues a different rhyming threat with each new encounter. Mama Frog uses a technique that many preschoolers will recognize: she counts to three to make the Giant Jumperee leave Rabbit's burrow. The gleeful, unrepentant culprit is sure to make children gigglethen pause with Mama Frog's response. The text's tone, plot, and repetitions are perfect for the youngest readers. The artwork is a masterful match, with humorous, exquisitely rendered body language and facial expressions. Each time there is tension, the art and text of the following page relieves it. The final, wordless double-page spread is a joyous affirmation of life and friendship. A winner for libraries everywhere: home, public, day care, preschool, and school. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
