Review by Booklist Review
With one major, climactic exception, most of the significant action in this clever clover conundrum takes place between the page turns. Despite Roy the boar's best efforts to guard a prized clover patch about to burst into delicious bloom, it mysteriously, infuriatingly keeps shrinking! Surely Jarvis the gopher, helpfully trotting in with a clover cookbook, a guide to camping, and even an offer to help with guard duties (while reading from an aerospace-engineering textbook) can't be the culprit? When Roy wakes up to find the patch is gone, he snatches up a visibly plumper Jarvis and snarls that he knows exactly what to do. Confounding the expectations of Jon Klassen fans, not to mention those of the terrified rodent, he then marches away to get a book of his own. Parsley places her anthropomorphic but easily recognizable rivals in a pleasant woodsy setting, but concocts a wonderful assemblage of cogs, wheels, springs, and slides on her way to the explosive conclusion.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Roy, a warthog, has found the perfect clover patch--"The stems were tall. The leaves were large." But Jarvis, a gopher, is running a long, bibliophilic con to get the patch all for himself. Every time Roy tries to shoo the eager gopher away, Jarvis offers Roy a book that distracts him: a clover cookbook that tickles his chef aspirations (he even dons a toque), a camping book so that he can stand guard comfortably (it unleashes his inner scout), and finally an aerospace engineering book so dense ("It was nothing but orbital inclination and nose cones") that he conks out. Now the patch is eaten up "right down to the nubbins!"--but Roy is no longer the fool. With help from texts of his own choosing, he closes the books on his toothy nemesis. Parsley (Neck & Neck) channels the irreverent spirit of classic Warner Bros. cartoons in this battle of wills and books, with digital drawings framed and composed to land every comic beat. And while Roy spends much of the story fuming, sulking, or throwing a tantrum, he's quite a lovable lug. Ages 4--8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--In an unassuming forest clearing, Roy, a wild boar, chances upon a patch of clover just on the verge of serving up its scrumptious white blossoms. Lucky Roy lays claim to his newfound clover patch when his bookworm neighbor, Jarvis, the gopher, discreetly shows interest in the rare treat. Jarvis cunningly tempts Roy with books about cooking with clover, campsite construction, and aerospace engineering, distracting Roy from defending the prized clover patch. Much to Roy's surprise, little by little, the clover patch slowly disappears. How will Roy catch this sly thief before all of his clover vanishes? By visiting the library for the right book to plan his course of action! Parsley (If You Ever Want To Bring an Alligator to School, Don't!), in a style reminiscent of Ryan T. Higgins's Mother Bruce, plays with the text to deliver immersive screwball cartoon humor. The hilarious antics of boar and gopher devouring books in order to outsmart each other make for a playful read-aloud for early elementary students. VERDICT An engaging and humorous first purchase, equal parts read-aloud and laugh-out-loud.--Emily Brush, Novi P. L., MI
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A clever--er, clover--thief is outwitted. With immense joy, a scruffy boar finds a big patch of green clover. He quickly sprawls across it to claim his territory. The clover needs just a bit more time to bloom; Roy is willing to wait. However, he warily eyes his neighbor, Jarvis, a gopher who would also enjoy munching on the sweet, green treat. "Don't even think about stealing my patch of clover, Jarvis," Roy grumbles. Jarvis assures Roy he would never do such a thing. But he does have a cookbook that he would like to share. It's called How To Cook With Clover. Roy starts to read the recipes and is inspired. When the book calls for added ingredients, Roy ambles off to find them. When he returns, part of his clover patch is gone! Roy is furious. He resolves to guard his clover day and night. But Jarvis keeps offering books…and Roy's clover patch keeps getting smaller and smaller. That is--until Roy goes to the library to find "the right book." In both text and illustration, Parsley strikes distinct, humorous tones for each character, and the twist at the end is giggleworthy and offbeat. There is a distinct Looney Tunes feel to the story, enlivened by both the literary theme and the fact that their relationship, though antagonistic, is not that of predator to prey. A wily nod to the power of reading. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
