The Giant Jumperee

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 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for The Giant Jumperee

* "Oxenbury is in fine form here. . . . Donaldson's spare text is perfect for read-alouds, and the title character's dialogue is full of catchy rhymes. Little ones will clamor for this one again and again. A lovely option for storytime or one-on-one sharing." —School Library Journal, starred review

* "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 . . . instantly establishes her as a force to be reckoned with." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "The gleeful, unrepentant culprit is sure to make children giggle—then 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. . . . 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." —Kirkus, starred review