by Jodie Parachini (Author) Daniel Rieley (Illustrator)
This is a very serious book. Nothing silly is allowed. There are no funny faces, no clowns, and definitely no shenanigans. A serious book is always respectful, and, of course, is always in black and white.
But wait! Who's this? Zebra might be black and white, but he is NOT serious. And he and his friends are ruining the book with their antics, parades, and parties!
This funny and irreverent book that pits its narrator against its characters in a hilarious way invites reader participation and encourages kids to think about writing their own books and stories--just as donkey does here in the end.
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PreS-K--This is a serious book...well, it would be if not for the delightfully funny antics of one donkey and his friends. They are loud, they make silly faces, they have a parade--basically, they break every rule as outlined on the front flap (this includes "behave," "no laughing," and "study"). From the second page onward, the narrator quickly loses control of the story as more silly animals fill the page. In this way, color also takes up more of the white space (which irks the beleaguered narrator). Rieley wisely uses the presentation of the book to show the opposing viewpoints; the text is in a plain black font--in other words, rather serious-looking--while the illustrations are a boldly colorful mixed-media type (both the jacket and the hidden cover underneath are good indicators of what to expect). Altogether, this is a great read-aloud that a storyteller can really play up; the statements are short, the narration builds up, and there is lots to laugh at. Children will love the contradiction between the images and text and will like that the animals clearly choose to ignore the rules. Getting them to mimic the deeds of this donkey and his friends will only increase the fun for active little ones. VERDICT A seriously silly book brimming with opportunities for actively engaging storytime attendees.--Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ont.
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.