SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: I FOUND A KITTY!
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.troycummings.net/
CITY: Greencastle
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 354
http://www.hermanagencyinc.com/troy_cummings.htm http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375865824 http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=103947&view=full_sptlght
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born June 7, 1972, in Cunot, IN; married; wife a college professor; has children.
EDUCATION:DePauw University, degree, 1996.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator, graphic designer, animator, and author. Times of Northwest Indiana, Munster, illustrator and designer, 1996; Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, Web designer, 1996-2000; FreeZone (website), illustrator, 1999-2000; freelance illustrator and designer, 2000—.
AVOCATIONS:Playing wallyball and board games, bike riding with his family.
WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals, including the Boston Globe, Highlights for Children, Indy Men, Minneapolis Daily News, New York Daily News, Portland Monthly, and Time for Kids.
SIDELIGHTS
A cartoonist since childhood, Troy Cummings creates humorous picture books that mix antic stories with his engaging comics-style art. With The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! (Big Time!), Giddy-Up, Daddy! , and Can I Be Your Dog? to his credit, Cummings also entertains older children in his quirky “Notebook of Doom” and “Binder of Doom” chapter books, which follow the adventures of several enthusiastic young monster hunters. In his work as an illustrator, he has also created artwork for picture-book texts by Kenn Nesbit, Tara Lazar, Tammi Sauer, Chris Barton, and Asia Citro.
Raised in rural Indiana, Cummings began drawing at a very young age and created his own comics as an elementary school student. By high school he was tapped as the official cartoonist for his high school newspaper, and he continued this position during his college years. After college he worked as a graphic artist, explaining on the Penguin Random House website that this work included “designing newspaper pages, laying out posters, and editing photos almost every day.” By taking on a wide range of jobs with newspapers and online publishers, Cummings he built a strong skill set and was eventually able to establish his career as a full-time author/illustrator.
Cummings’s first self-illustrated story, The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! (Big Time!), chronicles a vulnerable arachnid’s emotional response to being washed out of a downspout during a rainstorm. Vowing to stay on solid ground in the future, the frightened spider suffers a new embarrassment when news of her trauma goes viral on the Internet. Fortunately, the encouragement of ladybug friend Polly helps Eensy confront her fears and begin climbing again. A Publishers Weekly reviewer applauded the mix of “humorous illustrations and clever text” in The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! and Booklist contributor Shelle Rosenfeld noted that Cummings’s “varying perspectives add to the fun.” According to a Kirkus Reviews critic, The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! “not only models problem-solving but how to be a good friend as well.”
In Giddy-Up, Daddy!, Cummings presents “a boisterous tribute to devoted fathers,” according to a critic in Publishers Weekly. A balding, bespectacled father proves so adept at giving horsey-back rides to his son and daughter that he draws the attention of despicable rustlers. After Dad is kidnaped, the siblings track him to a rodeo and plan a wild escape. Praising Giddy-Up, Daddy! in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Deborah Stevenson noted that it “has the rambling, slightly hallucinogenic quality of a silly story crafted by kids and parents together.” “For an unabashedly unsentimental laugh-out-loud tale that celebrates fathers’ loving, playful side—as well as their stamina—look no further,” concluded a Kirkus Reviews critic.
Another picture book for young readers, Can I Be Your Dog? introduces a homeless puppy named Arfy, who lives in a box near Butternut Street and hopes to find a forever home through a letter-writing campaign. With the help of a friendly postal worker, the pencil-wielding pup lists his good points (including being potty trained!), but no local households are in search of a canine companion. Fortunately, Cummings’s story has a happy ending that rewards what a Kirkus Reviews critic described as Arfy’s “enthusiastic personality and can-do attitude,” and in School Library Journal, Mindy Hiatt praised Can I Be Your Dog? as a “humorous picture book [that] will be a hit with storytime audiences and emergent readers.”
(open new)Arfy returns in I Found a Kitty! In this volume, the pup saves a stray kitten from a drainpipe and must find it a new home. Arfy writes letters of introduction and sends the kitten, called Scamper, to multiple homes that do not work out for a variety of reasons. Finally, Arfy finds the perfect home for Scamper. A Kirkus Reviews writer described the book as “a heartwarming epistolary tale of helpfulness.” Another critic in Kirkus Reviews stated that the volume offered “more fun with a lovable, literate canine; sure to inspire budding animal rescue advocates.”
Creative cutting techniques are on display in Cars & Trucks, a puzzle-shaped book with four parts, each representing a different type of vehicle. A Kirkus Reviews critic highlighted problems with the book’s design and issues with the vocabulary. The critic called the volume “an original idea that’s not quite road ready.”(close new—more below)
Turning to a slightly older audience, Cummings introduces Alexander Bopp and the Super Secret Monster Patrol in his “Notebook of Doom” and “Binder of Doom” chapter books. First appearing in Rise of the Balloon Goons, Alexander and friends Nikki and Rip are unusual children: mutants, they live in Stermont, a town plagued by a wide variety of monsters. After discovering a handwritten notebook full of information on monsters, the friends take the responsibility for keeping their neighbors safe, and they tackle other monstrous threats in books such as Attack of the Shadow Smashers, Chomp of the Meat-Eating Vegetables, and Sneeze of the Octo-Schnozz. all of which include collectible monster trading cards. In Brute-Cake, Cummings’s first “Binder of Doom” story, school is out for the summer, and Alexander and company are attending a library summer camp where creativity is encouraged. In a binder provided to record his ideas, the boy chronicles his ideas, all of which focus on keeping their small town safe. Their first challenge, squashing a giant baked sponge with evil intentions, plays out in a tale that features “enough cheeky puns to engage” novice readers, according to a Kirkus Reviews writer. Alexander, Nikki, and Rip are still busy at summer camp when new monster-related problems come to light in Boa Constructor. As the friends put their inventing on hold in order to battle a maniacal two-headed, snakelike villain, Cummings’s “grayscale illustrations add visuals that will keep early readers engaged,” noted a Kirkus Reviews writer. Citing the combination of “short chapters and engaging” art here, Elizabeth Pelayo recommended Boa Constructor in School Library Journal as “perfect for reading aloud.”
Lazar retells a popular fairy tale in Little Red Gliding Hood, and a Publishers Weekly reviewer noted of Cummings’s illustrations here that they “feel as slick as ice, creating a playful backdrop for Lazar’s wintry nursery rhyme punning.” In Caring for Your Lion, Sauer presents a humorous guide for pet owners that features what a Publishers Weekly critic applauded as a “boisterous … mix of schematic-style diagrams and vividly exaggerated cartoons.” (open new)Cummings draws scenes featuring a rooster trying to count sheep and being interrupted by other farm animals in Sauer’s One Sheep, Two Sheep, which a Kirkus Reviews writer called “a fine addition to the sleepy sheepy canon.” Another Cummings-Sauer collaboration is Not Now, Cow, about a bovine protagonist who confuses the seasons. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews called the book “pure fun” and remarked: “Readers and preschoolers will applaud both the silliness and practicalities presented.”(close new—more below) In Barton’s Mighty Truck a vehicle develops superpowers after visiting a mysterious car wash during a thunderstorm. This book’s “bright cartoons are full of energy and excitement,” asserted Linda Ludke in her School Library Journal critique of the work. Another picture book featuring Cummings’s art, Citro’s Vroom Vroom Garbage Truck benefits from what a Publishers Weekly critic described as an “endearing” vehicular hero featuring “googly headlight eyes and robot-like pincer arms.”
(open new)In Those Are Not My Underpants!, by Melissa Martin, Cummings illustrates a story in which Bear Cub searches for the owner of a pair of underpants he has found hanging near his cave. He rules out Bat, Skunk, Squirrel, Salmon, Moose, Beaver, Turtle, and Owl. Finally, when Bear Cub gets home, Momma Bear gives him a surprising answer to his question. A Kirkus Reviews contributor asserted: “Kids will find it hysterical, and the repetition supports new readers.” “Cummings’s … bold graphic pictures … create a colorful and benevolent world for Bear Cub and readers to explore together,” commented a writer in Publishers Weekly.(close new)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 1, 2010, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out! (Big Time!), p. 46; October 1, 2015, April Mazza, review of Little Red Gliding Hood, p. 82; March 1, 2018, Carolyn Phelan, review of Can I Be Your Dog?, p. 53.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May, 2013, Deborah Stevenson, review of Giddy-Up, Daddy!, p. 413.
Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2010, review of The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out!; April 1, 2013, review of Giddy-Up, Daddy!; May 1, 2013, review of Rise of the Balloon Goons; August 1, 2015, review of Little Red Gliding Hood; February 15, 2018, review of Can I Be Your Dog?; January 1, 2019, review of Cars and Trucks; February 15, 2019, review of Brute-Cake; September 1, 2019, review of Boa Constructor; December 15, 2019, review of I Found a Kitty!; March 1, 2021, review of Not Now, Cow; April 15, 2021, review of Those Are Not My Underpants!; August 1, 2021, review of One Sheep, Two Sheep; December 1, 2021, review of I Found a Kitty!
Publishers Weekly, April 26, 2010, review of The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out!, p. 105; October 18, 2010, review of More Bears!, p. 42; April 15, 2013, review of Giddy-Up, Daddy!, p. 62; July 13, 2015, review of Little Red Gliding Hood, p. 64; March 27, 2017, review of Caring for Your Lion, p. 98; November 15, 2018, review of Vroom Vroom Garbage Truck, p. 68; March 22, 2021, review of Those Are Not My Underpants!, p. 82.
School Library Journal, April, 2010, Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, review of The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out!, p. 122; January, 2011, Susan E. Murray, review of More Bears!, p. 81; April, 2013, Martha Simpson, review of Giddy-Up, Daddy!, p. 126; September, 2015, Rachel Forbes, review of Little Red Gliding Hood, p. 124; March, 2016, Linda Ludke, review of Mighty Truck, p. 100; February, 2017, Henrietta Verma, review of Muddymania!, p. 65; March, 2018, Mindy Hiatt, review of Can I Be Your Dog?, p. 80; August, 2019, Elizabeth Pelayo, review of Boa Constructor, p. 64.
ONLINE
KidLit 411 blog, http://www.kidlit411.com/ (August 15, 2014), “Author-Illustrator Spotlight: Troy Cummings.”
Penguin Random House website, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/ (February 15, 2018), “About the Author: Troy Cummings.”
Public Libraries, http://publiclibrariesonline.org/ (November 20, 2015), Theresa Horn, “An Interview with Troy Cummings.”
Troy Cummings website, http://www.troycummings.net (April 27, 2022).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
As a kid, New York Times bestselling author Troy Cummings spent all his time writing stories, drawing pictures, and keeping an eye out for monsters. As a grown-up, he pretty much does the same thing. Except now his bed time is 9:15.
Troy has written and illustrated more than fifty children's books, including THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM series, THE BINDER OF DOOM series, CAN I BE YOUR DOG?, and THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER FREAKS OUT (BIG-TIME!) He has also illustrated books by other authors, including CARING FOR YOUR LION (by Tammi Sauer), LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD (by Tara Lazar), MIGHTY TRUCK (by Chris Barton), and VROOM VROOM GARBAGE TRUCK (by Asia Citro).
His illustrations have appeared in newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, board games, jigsaw puzzles, a French opera, and on the back of a box of fish sticks.
Troy Cummings lives in Indiana, where he steals jokes from his kids, cats, and hamsters.
PUBLISHERS
Troy Cummings's books have been published by Abrams Appleseed, Capstone, Caterpillar Books, Chronicle, Harper Collins, Igloo Books, The Innovation Press, Random House, Scholastic, Sourcebooks, Sterling, and Wiley.
Illustration Clients include AOL, Back Stage, The Boston Globe, Cambridge University Press, Cartoon Network, The Chicago Tribune, Crab Hill Press, Cricket Media, Crocodile Creek, Highlights, The National Park Foundation, NY Daily News, Peaceable Kingdom Press, Portland Monthly, POZ, Quill, The RiverRun International Film Festival, The Minneapolis StarTribune, and Time for Kids.
FAQ
When were you born?
June 7, 1972
Are the "Notebook of Doom" characters based on anyone in real life?
Yes. The kids are based on kids I know, and kids I remember from when I was in grade school. The grown-ups are based on me and my grown-up friends, who sometimes dismiss things that kids know are important. And Ranger Harry is similar to a guy I knew in college, who still owes me five bucks.
What do you do for fun when you're not writing/illustrating books?
I love to play board games, even though my kids clobber me most of the time.
Do you play any sports?
I play wallyball twice a week—it's like volleyball, but you can bounce the ball off the walls. I also love to ride bikes with my kids.
Do you have any fears?
I'm totally afraid of heights! Even standing on a chair makes me woozy.
I'm going to be Troy Cummings for my school presentation. Do you have any advice for how I could dress and act like you?
- Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. I always wear sneakers if I can.
- If you don't have glasses, you'll have to make some, or borrow a pair from Mr. Potato Head.
- Speaking of potato head: you may have noticed that I'm totally bald. I'd advise you NOT to shave your head for this report, even if you think it may result in a better grade.
- Keep a little notebook in your pocket. (Always carry a notebook! Any time you're bored, you should be doodling.)
- Be sure to show off your sweet, sweet dance moves. (I'm not really a great dancer, but if you can convince people I am in your report, that'll make me look cool.)
As a kid, New York Times bestselling author Troy Cummings spent all his time writing stories, drawing pictures, and keeping an eye out for monsters. As a grown-up, he pretty much does the same thing. Except now his bed time is 9:15.
Troy has written and illustrated more than forty children's books, including THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM series, THE BINDER OF DOOM series, CAN I BE YOUR DOG?, and THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER FREAKS OUT (BIG-TIME!) He has also illustrated books by other authors, including CARING FOR YOUR LION (by Tammi Sauer), LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD (by Tara Lazar), MIGHTY TRUCK (by Chris Barton), and VROOM VROOM GARBAGE TRUCK (by Asia Citro).
His illustrations have appeared in newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, board games, jigsaw puzzles, a French opera, and on the back of a box of fish sticks.
Troy Cummings lives in Indiana, where he steals jokes from his kids, cats, and hamsters.
QUOTED: "an original idea that's not quite road ready."
Cummings, Troy CARS & TRUCKS Chronicle (Children's Fiction) $15.99 9, 11 ISBN: 978-1-4521-6546-2
Four vehicle-shaped board books packaged together with three road scenes invite young transportation enthusiasts to play.
A police car, a taxi, a fire engine, and a recycling truck fit together like a simple puzzle in a cutout nestled in the bigger book. When the books are removed, the cutout is just a plain black space in the middle of the right-hand page. Pages that frame the cutout open to create three different wordless road scenes decorated with stylized buildings, animals, and more vehicles. Even though the book-vehicles don't have moving wheels (just pictures of wheels), toddlers might be more interested in them as toys than books. Each little book has an introductory sentence ("Hurry! The recycling truck is almost here!") followed by labels ("glass"; "paper"; "bin") near the relevant objects in the illustrations. Some of the vocabulary is rather abstract for toddlers. For example, in the taxi book, one of the labels is "checkers." The front of each vehicle makes a convenient handhold for toddlers just learning to turn pages. However, the plastic cover that holds the small book-vehicles in place doesn't fit easily into the cutout and will be quickly lost, making this package a shelving nightmare. The cartoon people shown driving the taxi, taking out the recycling, calling on a police radio, rescuing a cat, etc., are various shades of brown but no distinct ethnicity.
An original idea that's not quite road ready. (Novelty board book. 2-4)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Cummings, Troy: CARS & TRUCKS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A567651536/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7800b740. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
QUOTED: "pure fun" "Readers and preschoolers will applaud both the silliness and practicalities presented."
Sauer, Tammi NOT NOW, COW abramsappleseed (Children's None) $14.99 4, 6 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4629-1
Animal friends on the farm are ready to enjoy the pleasures of each new season—but Cow displays confusion over what is expected.
In a double-page spread before the title page, an excited Rooster crows, “SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!” Spring is announced immediately after the title page, and readers see Duck watering her newly emerged sprouts, Sheep flying a kite, and Goat enjoying the spring showers. Cow, however, appears dressed in mittens, a heavy scarf, and hat. “Oh Cow. Not now,” says Rooster. Summer arrives, and with it swimming, beach play, and ice cream cones, but Cow is ready with a sled, snow boots, and heavy sweater. And again Rooster tells her, “Oh Cow. Not now.” Amusing illustrations in bold colors reflect each season’s attributes while the succinct and simple rhyming text details the animals’ activities. The fall scenario shows orange and brown leaves falling with Horse raking, Chick munching on an apple, and Sheep carving a pumpkin: “Horse is ready. / Builds a pile. / Chick is ready. / Snacks awhile. // Sheep is ready. / Adds a smile.” But a parka-clad Cow is set on skiing. Rooster: “Oh, Cow. Just…wow.” When, in winter, Cow shows up in a bathing suit and flippers, her exasperated friends finally tell her, “We need to talk.” Readers might wonder whether Cow is just innocently clueless or expressing her individualism. Kids will nevertheless be eager to repeat the refrain, the predictable structure of the page turns and pacing expertly cuing them. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 61.9% of actual size.)
Pure fun; readers and preschoolers will applaud both the silliness and practicalities presented. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Sauer, Tammi: NOT NOW, COW." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A653125668/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=96d0dfb7. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
QUOTED: "a heartwarming epistolary tale of helpfulness."
Cummings, Troy I FOUND A KITTY! Random House (Children's Fiction) $17.99 3, 3 ISBN: 978-1-9848-3186-6
What's Arfy to do when he finds a stray kitten in a drainpipe?
Arfy's human's allergic to cats, so his new buddy needs a home. The pup picks up his pencil and writes a letter of introduction to the music teacher. "Scamper likes to eat, play, and poop in a box. He also likes to sing!" Scamper carries the letter to Maestro Mitch's house. Mitch is charmed, but he sends Scamper back with a letter saying the kitten's high notes are too much. Arfy pens a second letter, hoping to place Scamper with the triplet babies next door. Their snuggling turns out to be too much for Scamper; he runs away. Arfy's third letter introduces Scamper to Emily Lugnut the mechanic, offering the puss as a mouser…but Scamper's more interested in playing with the mice than catching them; Emily returns him with a note and an apology. Neither the talent agent nor the man with cat-themed decorations works out either. Scamper thanks Arfy in a note of his own. It's only when the little furball enumerates his favorite parts of each attempted placement that Arfy realizes the perfect home for his new friend and writes one last letter of introduction. Cummings' follow-up to Arfy's winning debut, Can I Be Your Dog? (2018), is equally charming. The colorful and dynamic illustrations oppose each item of correspondence on verso against a scene on recto to tell the tale hand in paw with Arfy's missives and the answering letters. Humans of diverse races live in Arfy's town.
A heartwarming epistolary tale of helpfulness. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Cummings, Troy: I FOUND A KITTY!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A608364693/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7e3bee78. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
QUOTED: "Cummings's ... bold graphic pictures ... create a colorful and benevolent world for Bear Cub and readers to explore together."
Melissa Martin, illus. by Troy Cummings. Random House, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-984831-89-7
When Bear Cub finds a pair of tighty-whities hanging on a tree limb, "No name. No tag," he decides to find the owner. And that means readers get a comprehensive, played-straight-but-giggle-inducing tour of animal tushies, each one covered with an undergarment befitting anatomy, habitat requirements, or individual style. Snake wears "looooong" underwear that looks like a tube of red striped flannel; Bat's underwear glows in the dark of a deep cave; and Moose flashes a toothy grin when he shows off "EXTRA LARGE" red undershorts emblazoned with pink hearts. And the plain pair? Attentive readers will note that Bear Cub himself isn't wearing any underwear, and Mom--confusingly, not wearing any herself--gently reminds the ursine youth she washed and hung his pair on the tree limb the night before. Martin (Tessie Tames Her Tongue) builds in pleasing narrative rhythm through the repetition of Bear Cub's friendly interrogation ("Hi Moose. Are these your underpants?" "No... Those are not my underpants." "Are you sure?") that leads up to each undergarment's reveal, while Cummings's (the Notebook of Doom series) bold graphic pictures, reminiscent of vintage national park posters, create a colorful and benevolent world for Bear Cub and readers to explore together. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Mary Cummings, Betsy Amster Literary. (May)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 PWxyz, LLC
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"Those Are Not My Underpants!" Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 12, 22 Mar. 2021, p. 82. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A656810612/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=20de9702. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
QUOTED: "Kids will find it hysterical, and the repetition supports new readers."
Martin, Melissa THOSE ARE NOT MY UNDERPANTS! Random House (Children's None) $17.99 5, 11 ISBN: 978-1-984831-89-7
Will Bear Cub ever find the owner of the pair of underpants hanging in the tree outside his cave?
His distressed expression will show readers that he takes this job seriously—someone somewhere has a bare bum. In a pattern that repeats, Bear Cub asks his friends in turn if the tighty whities happen to belong to them. When they say no, he asks, “Are you sure?” and they give the reason why they can’t possibly be theirs: There’s no hole for Squirrel’s tail, Bat’s underpants glow in the dark, they smell too good to be Skunk’s, and Salmon wears a swimsuit instead. They don’t belong to Turtle, Owl, Snake, Beaver, or Moose, either. So, Bear Cub heads home…to a surprise (maybe not for close observers) revelation from Momma Bear, who, strangely enough, wears no underwear herself. The diversity of underpants on display will keep readers in stitches, and the animals’ reactions to Bear Cub’s inquiries about something so personal are both very funny and so true to life for kids: Turtle seems almost prudish, Salmon is joyfully matter-of-fact, Skunk seems proud of their characteristic trait, and Beaver is terribly shy. Though those reading aloud may get tired of the word underpants, repeated 34 times not including the title, kids will find it hysterical, and the repetition supports new readers.
Sure to have kids imagining what kinds of underpants other species might wear. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Martin, Melissa: THOSE ARE NOT MY UNDERPANTS!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A658194584/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=496c4aec. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
QUOTED: "a fine addition to the sleepy sheepy canon."
Sauer, Tammi ONE SHEEP, TWO SHEEP abramsappleseed (Children's None) $14.99 10, 19 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4630-7
A tired rooster just wants to get to sleep…now if only he can count the sheep.
Rooster settles down in bed to count himself to sleep with the classic device of counting sheep jumping over fences. He gets as far as three, but then Chicken hurdles the fence. “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! A CHICKEN?! / I’m sorry, but this is serious bedtime business. / I count SHEEP, okay? Just sheep!” A few more sheep jump, but then Pig puts in an appearance. Again, Rooster tells the farmyard that all he wants to count is sheep. Three more sheep hop over, but then Cow (in crown and tutu) leaps the fence. “Cock-a-doodle-DO WE NEED TO REVIEW? / Counting SHEEP helps me sleep.” Still awake, the rooster gets as far as 10 sheep, but then seven chicks “cheep” outside his coop. Rooster sternly addresses each animal in turn; each tries bleating like a sheep, but he tells them what sound they should make. All seems to be in order…but then all the sheep jump into the lake with Duck with a “Quack!” The solution? All his non-ovine friends, dressed as sheep, jump over the fence to lull their friend to sleep. Sauer’s bedtime barnyard book will work well for a nighttime read, with the caveat that Cummings’ silly cartoons will incite giggles here and there. The wide-eyed, smiling critters and the deadpan humor are a good pairing. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fine addition to the sleepy sheepy canon. (Picture book. 3-6)
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"Sauer, Tammi: ONE SHEEP, TWO SHEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A669986589/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0793e163. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.
QUOTED: "more fun with a lovable, literate canine; sure to inspire budding animal rescue advocates."
Cummings, Troy I FOUND A KITTY! Dragonfly Books (Children's None) $7.99 1, 4 ISBN: 978-0-593-38007-9
Arfy--a big-eyed dog with a heart to match--uses his letter-writing skills to find a home for a stray kitten.
This sequel to the New York Times bestseller Can I Be Your Dog? (2018) begins with an entry from Arfy's diary in his easily readable handwriting. Arfy explains how his usual Tuesday pursuits--digging up a stick and barking at a bird--were interrupted by a new smell. He followed his nose and found an adorable, piteous kitten whom he named Scamper. Arfy reveals that he cannot keep the homeless feline because "my person is allergic to cats." So, he tests out various owners for Scamper--a music teacher, a set of triplet babies, an auto mechanic, a glamorous movie agent, and a tchotchke-collecting cat fancier. He writes letters to each candidate explaining why Scamper would be a good fit for them. But each time, the arrangement doesn't work and the prospective adopters send Scamper back along with apologetic letters explaining why various aspects of the kitten's behavior don't pass muster. Just when all hope seems lost, Scamper chalks a message on the pavement that helps Arfy find his new friend a perfect home, one where he can be himself. The letters and diary entries appear as facsimiles accompanied by amusing, colorful cartoony art. Much of the humor stems from the fact that the animals' earnest and formal correspondence is full of fun wordplay. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
More fun with a lovable, literate canine; sure to inspire budding animal rescue advocates. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Cummings, Troy: I FOUND A KITTY!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108321/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9f025ab7. Accessed 31 Mar. 2022.