The Ugly Five

Certain animals seem to be the work of Mother Nature on an off day. Here, frequent collaborators Donaldson and Scheffler (The Gruffalo) showcase the wildebeest, the spotted hyena, the lappet-faced vulture, the warthog, and the marabou stork. One by one, they come together for a stroll on a savannah, owning the word ugly with pride. "My legs, long and skinny, are covered in poo," the stork says. "And I'll eat almost anything, even a shoe." Scheffler, in a departure from his usual anthropomorphized characters, clearly had fun with these more realistic, warts-and-all portrayals: his hyena, for example, talks to readers with a mouth full of bloody bones from a fresh kill. Still, there's something endearingly human about the characters' confident self-awareness and easy camaraderie, a winning liveliness in their eyes. Readers won't be totally surprised when the final pages reveal that the Ugly Five have some very big fans: their own very cute babies ("You give us our food/ And help cheer us up when we're in a bad mood"). It's a welcome twist on the expression "a face only a mother could love," and a heartwarming tribute to the child side of the parent-child bond. Ages 4-8. (July)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--This rhyming book takes place on the African plain and introduces a collection of animals not known for attractiveness, but beloved by their children nonetheless. It begins with an introduction to the wildebeest, and she soon sings a song that is repeated with variations throughout the book, "I'm the ugly one, I'm the ugly one. I'm the ugliest animal under the sun. My ungainly appearance is second to none. I'm the ugly one, I'm the ugly one." Wildebeest meets up with spotted hyena, lappet-faced vulture, warthog, and marabou stork, and the song reflects each addition. Scheffler is a frequent artist for Donaldson and has the perfect approach for her lighthearted prose. The "ugly" beasts are not ugly at all, but endearing, with wide-eyed faces expressing playfulness while picking through garbage, crunching bones, shredding carrion, and wallowing in mud. Comical illustrations in bright, but natural colors, are unadorned by text or borders. Each features a natural habitat with plenty of creatures and small details for observant eyes to seek. The satisfying and happy ending for the actually "lovely five" is depicted in a richly hued spread. Safari notes follow the story, which is prefaced by an author's note. VERDICT Playful and positive, this book is an introduction to creatures of the African plain and a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.--Lisa Taylor, Florida State College, Jacksonville

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for A Gold Star for Zog

A New York Times Notable Book

"Donaldson, the current children's laureate in Britain, is a master of witty comic rhyme and original stories with heart. Here she and Scheffler outdo themselves with the smart, funny — dare I say, deep? — story of a dragon in training, a princess who wants to be a doctor and a knight who could use a bit of rescuing. The book gets a gold star too." — New York Times

"While Scheffler's characters are straight out of fantasy, they exude a sweet, down-to-earth quality that makes them instantly sympathetic. Readers will get a kick out of the genial self-awareness in his cartooning — on almost every spread, a character glances at the audience as if to say, 'Can you believe this?'" — Publishers Weekly

"A delightful new twist on happily-ever-after." — School Library Journal

Praise for Superworm

"A word lover's delight in rousing, rhyming verse." — New York Times Book Review

* "The unlikely superhero with his googly eyes and winning smile will be a hit, and the rhythmic rhyme will have audiences chanting along by the end of the story... Silly and slimy — superfun!" — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Praise for Stick Man

* "Donaldson's rhymes never skip a beat, and Scheffler personalizes the many animals, people and settings in his witty watercolors. This yarn could become a December perennial." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Scheffler's engaging illustrations, Donaldson's irresistible rhyming text and repeated refrains make this a winning read-aloud that will stick around long after the holiday season." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review