I am a capybara

A shaggy capybara narrates this meandering debut by Fabbri. "I'm a capybara, and I love living simply," declares the anthropomorphic protagonist, whose hairy appearance is so doglike that an entire page illustrates the species' differences. Alternating capybara facts with personal preferences, the rodent describes himself as a self-proclaimed poetry lover (despite an inability to read or write it) who loves the water (and can fall asleep floating) and enjoys eating broth. At last the unassuming narrator imparts a "secret" known by his species: "tough guys love cuddles and care sometimes." White space abounds amid Fabbri's spare, naturalistic illustrations, which almost solely feature her subject in various poses. But while the overall approach is one of whimsy, a hazy amalgam of fact and fancy, mixed with heavy-handed philosophizing, make for an unclear focus. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)

A capybara explains just who he is. Not to be confused with a dog--or a mouse, a beaver, a bear, or a marmot--this self-proclaimed "tough guy" is a capybara, "the biggest rodent in the world." Unlike dogs with their many breeds, "capybaras all look the same." They are "excellent swimmers." They "have a serious expression." And they "love cuddles and care." While this capybara goes on to describe himself collectively, there's lots of individual personality on display. This capybara likes "observ[ing] things and their poetry," wearing bow ties to the opera, playfully dressing up as a whale, and sipping a "well-made broth." He speaks in a candid, conversational monologue, and separating capybara fact from fiction may be tricky for some readers. As further quirks and preferences unfold and anecdotes are shared, the question arises: Is this curious, contemplative nature a hallmark of all capybaras? Fabbri's soft colored-pencil drawings punctuated with thin ink linework are textured but minimalist--with the white page as the background, the titular subject remains the focus. A gentle, offbeat sketch. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.