SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Stop That Mop!
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.jonathanfenske.com/
CITY: Greenville
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: SATA 401
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in FL; married; wife’s name Jennifer; children: three daughters.
EDUCATION:Clemson University, B.F.A. (sculpture).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author, illustrator, and artist. Exhibitions: Work is collected at the Booth Western Museum and the Arthur Blank Family Foundation.
AVOCATIONS:Hiking, running.
AWARDS:Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book, 2016, for A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, and 2022, for Nothing Fits a Dinosaur; Best of the Best Books 2017, Chicago Public Library, for We Need More Nuts! and A Pig, a Fox, and Stinky Socks; several titles chosen as Junior Library Guild selections.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
The author/illustrator of numerous books for elementary-age readers, Jonathan Fenske started his career as a gallery artist. Prefiguring his permanent foray into children’s literature, he was fond of painting vintage toys in striking circumstances. His self-illustrated picture books and early readers often feature lively cartoons and metafictional moments, with some characters aware they inhabit a book and blithely interacting with readers. Fenske noted in an online Watch. Connect. Read. interview, “Picture books are not only my job, but also a hobby.” Fenske further commented: “I love to peruse the shelves of bookstores and libraries looking for new picture books. We live in what I consider to be an idyllic time for children’s literature.”
Among other notable awards, Fenske won the 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for his picture book, A Pig, a Fox, and a Box. In an online Teaching Books interview, Fenske explained how he came to write that book, the first in his “Pig & Fox” series: “What I liked about a fox and a pig was, to me, they seem to have opposite personalities. The pig, … a little chubby, innocent creature, and a fox, a little sleek, crafty fox. … I thought it would be fun to have the little fox try to play some tricks on the pig with some disastrous results.”
In his 2016 picture book, Barnacle Is Bored, Fenske offers up a sea creature eager for some change. Barnacle is attached to the underside of a dock and longs to set off to experience the wider world. Barnacle is jealous of the fish that swim by, especially one spotted yellow fish whom Barnacle imagines swimming with the dolphins and the sailfish and having a wonderful time. This happy imagining is cut short, however, when a hungry eel appears on the scene, and Barnacle decides, as a Publishers Weekly reviewer noted, that “being bored beats being lunch.” The reviewer called the book a “mischievous skit of a story,” further commenting: “Fenske keeps it simple, deploying his closing jokes with confident comic timing.” Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews critic concluded: “Fenske’s open, flat-colored, loose-lined, animated cartoon style and simple dialogue-bubble text in a large, bold font are inviting for new readers.”
Fenske remains underwater with his 2017 picture book, Plankton Is Pushy, in which said shrimplike Plankton meets Mr. Mussel and is determined to get him to talk. Plankton gets ever more insistent and beseeching, and also gets closer and closer to silent Mr. Mussel, until he notices a tiny opening in the shell. Curious, Plankton approaches, and then the shell snaps shut, providing Mr. Mussel with a snack. However, all is not lost, for in a final panel, Plankton pushes the shell open to have the final say: “I knew you could talk!” A Kirkus Reviews critic had praise for the illustrations, noting that Mr. Mussel is “rendered with what passes for an underbite [and] impassively scowling eyes to give it the look of an old-time cartoon gangster.”
Fenske has produced a pair of picture books starring Lego figurines: I’m Fun, Too! and A Not-So-Scary Monster! In the first book, a basic Lego man from yesteryear is feeling inferior to newfangled Lego folks with cooler clothes, accessories, and expressions—but new friends in animal costumes teach him the power of self-transformation. A Kirkus Reviews writer enjoyed the “snarky, first-person narration,” Fenske’s “sharp sense of humor,” and the “amusing contrast” between old and new Lego designs. In A Not-So-Scary Monster!, the old-school Lego man encourages a googly-eyed, brick-built monster to go ahead and express a range of attitudes beyond “scary.” A Kirkus Reviews writer declared, “This cute, humorous story aims to reassure readers that emotions aren’t one-dimensional; it’s OK to display one’s varied, true feelings.”
In Hello, Crabby!, the first in the “Crabby Book” series, Fenske reprises some of his marine-world characters in a picture book for beginning readers. Barnacle and Plankton team up in alternating chapters to cheer up grumpy Crabby. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted: “Crabby’s persistent grumpiness and the patient plankton’s exasperation are shown clearly in their expressive eyes and mouths as well as their dialogue.” Plankton and Crabby return in Let’s Play, Crabby!, in which Plankton tries desperately to get Crabby to play children’s games. However, Crabby is quite content to just have a quiet day at the beach. A Kirkus Reviews critic concluded of this picture book: “Crabby’s and Plankton’s attempts at understanding and friendship provide good examples for beginning readers.”
Fenske serves up a picture book with a speed-reading rabbit in I Will Race You through This Book! Book-It Bunny takes on challengers in a race to read this interactive early reader. But just a page after telling readers to get set, Book-It pleads to stop, as he was not yet ready. Thereafter, the action is mostly visual, focusing on the rabbit’s theatrics and tricks to take readers’ attention away from the text. “With fast-paced text and illustrations to match, Fenske has created a page-turning race that readers will surely want to run again,” concluded a Publishers Weekly reviewer. Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews critic commented: “Fenske’s humorous metafictive competition pares down visual distractions so that readers can concentrate on decoding and on the book’s sense of play.” [re-resume new]Book-It Bunny revs up for another wacky speed-reading competition with the reader in I Will Not Lose in Super Shoes! In Booklist Linda Ludke praised the “peppy rhyming couplets,” “superb comedic pacing … and sight gags aplenty.”[suspend new]
Fenske returns to his characters Pig and Fox with the 2020 picture book, A Pig, a Fox, and a Fox, in which the third member is a Fox doll. Now that Pig is outnumbered, the tricks come fast and furious. Pig tries to rescue the Fox doll from a wall of blocks, believing it to be a real Fox. During the rescue attempt, Pig knocks the blocks down. Another trick backfires on Fox when Pig answers a knock on the door and opens it too quickly, hitting Fox hiding behind the door. A Kirkus Reviews critic noted of the work: “Using fewer than 130 words, Fenske recycles his slapstick formula alongside repeated phrases to effectively entertain emerging readers.”
After Squidnight, also published in 2020, features a company of rather spooky-looking squids making their way from the water to an oceanside house where a small child is sleeping next to an open window. Delivered in rhyming text, the story takes a twist, for it turns out the squids are not looking to terrorize the child. Rather, they are frustrated artists simply looking for a way to leave their inky mark. All their lovely ink artwork is washed away in the water, but on the walls of the house they can certainly make an impression. In the end, it is the child who takes the blame for this inky artwork, but he enjoys the artwork all the same. A Kirkus Reviews critic lauded the book’s artwork, noting, “the grayscale cartoon illustrations with hints of teal effectively create a spooky atmosphere.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer remarked that the “final image shows that insatiable creativity will always, eventually, find an appreciative audience.”
Unpleasant aromas and lowly creatures feature in Something Stinks! and Pill Bug Does Not Need Anybody. In Something Stinks!, a skunk looks high and low for the source of a terrible smell, with a right-hand fly helping out, but never figures out the source is right behind him. With Skunk comically chatting up the reader along the way, a Kirkus Reviews writer observed that Fenske’s “boldly outlined cartoon characters pop off the page” as he “expertly plays with depth of field to break the fourth wall.” The reviewer hailed the book as “side-splittingly smelly … comedy gold.” Pill Bug Does Not Need Anybody is narrated by smug Pill Bug, who boasts that he rolls alone—until he needs a pink fellow pill bug for help getting up, a push on a swing, and a friend on the seesaw. Then he changes his tune. In School Library Journal, Barbara Auerbach observed that the bugs’ expressions “speak volumes” as the narrative “conveys the importance of teamwork and friendship with humor and simplicity.”
Nothing Fits a Dinosaur is an early reader in which a young boy at bedtime imagines himself as an enormous dinosaur who must cleverly solve the problem of being (way) too big for his pajamas. School Library Journal reviewer Tanya Haynes hailed Nothing Fits a Dinosaur as a “creative, joyful book” in which “facial expressions of wonder and happiness depict a child deep in an imaginative world.” Another terrible lizard appears in A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book. An unseen narrator tries to get a gonzo tale going, but the three characters are skeptical. To begin with, sharks cannot walk, dinosaurs prefer stomping, and unicorns actually prance. Eventually the narrator, a kitten, makes an appearance, offering a “spark of excitement” and setting up a “dramatic denouement,” in a Publishers Weekly reviewer’s words. A Kirkus Reviews writer found that Fenske’s “zany cartoonish images” and “droll text” together make for a “fantastically funny” story—one that “can transform any storytime into a delightful piece of absurd theater.”
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Fenske wrote and illustrated Stop That Mop!, with rhyming sequences reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’s Hop on Pop. An annoyed mop is tired of cleaning up slop and glop that a pig drops, so it runs away. Joining the chase after the mop are a rabbit that hops, a pony that clops, and a fish (wearing a helmet so it can breathe) that flops, all yelling, “Stop that mop!” Even a stop sign can’t stop the mop, who yells back, “But you will never stop this mop!” The mop really gets to escape when it lands on a bird that flies away. In Kirkus Reviews a critic commented: “This masterful romp makes the very most of its limited vocabulary, entertaining even adult readers while offering beginners humor, suspense, and just plain fun.” Writing in Booklist, Alana Jara said the book was perfect for beginner readers, adding: “The lively, colorful illustrations and silly situations will keep kids entertained.”
The adorable Do I Have to Go to the Party! features Poppy the Pufferfish invited to Baby Guppy’s birthday party in a fish tank. Poppy is nervous about going to parties, not knowing what to wear, what to say, or what gift to bring. When she’s nervous, she puffs up into a ball. When Baby Guppy realizes there are not enough party supplies, Poppy is the perfect fish to help. “A winning series continues targeting young readers who need help processing emotions,” noted Jessica A. Bushore in School Library Journal. In Kirkus Reviews, a critic said: “Most illustrations show the fishy characters highlighted against colorful ovals reminiscent of a goldfish bowl.”
Fenske’s follow-up to A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book is the new A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle, in which the characters battle the book’s narrator, which wants them to ride a bicycle, but they would rather relax. The unicorn wants to dream about rainbows, and the dinosaur and shark want to eat a snack, depicted in the book as a kitten. The narrator says that those things are boring, and the kitten, who is naturally upset, taunts them with the bicycle. “Fans of the trio’s earlier power struggle will find this one equally entertaining,” declared a Kirkus Reviews writer. In an interview at Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, Fenske liked the reviewer’s “power struggle” description, saying: “When I made the first book, I wanted it to be a book where the characters were able to control their narrative instead of having it enacted upon them,” which happens in the follow-up book.
Following A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, Fenske’s new three-part story A Fox, a Pig, and a Dig finds friends Pig, Fox, and Fox’s doll Mister Fox playing at the beach. While Pig sleeps on the warm sand, Fox digs in the sand, trying to trick Pig with a sand mound that looks like Fox and then a big hole to hide in. But Pig isn’t fooled. Continuing the stories of Pig and Fox, Fenske told Cherokee Crum in an interview at YA Books Central that he drew on “my love of old Looney Tunes cartoons, where character’s attempts to catch a Road Runner or get the better of Bugs Bunny are always thwarted…[also] I tend to think like a child, so I find it easy to get in that storytelling frame of mind.” A critic reported in Kirkus Reviews: “The silent crab character provides extra comedic relief while witnessing the cartoonish antics.”
Nothing Scares a Dinosaur, Fenske’s Level 1 Ready-to-Read sequel to Nothing Fits a Dinosaur, finds a brown-skinned boy tucked into bed, but he’s kept awake by scratching sounds, dark shadows, a spider, and stormy weather. He transforms into his orange dinosaur alter ego, declaring that nothing scares a dinosaur, as he vanquishes his foes, including the family cat. That is, until Mommasaurus demands he turns off the light and goes back to bed. “A humorous and relatable tale that will motivate readers to battle on to the end,” according to a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Olivia Gorecke, a reviewer for School Library Journal, said: “Young readers will delight in the child’s innovative response to lighthearted bedtime fears.”
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BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, May 1, 2022, Linda Ludke, review of I Will Not Lose in Super Shoes!, p. 48; January 2025, Alana Jara, review of Stop That Mop!, p. 69.
Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2016, review of Barnacle Is Bored; February 15, 2017, review of Plankton Is Pushy; June 15, 2018, review of I’m Fun, Too!; January 15, 2019, review of Hello, Crabby!; April 15, 2019, review of I Will Race You through This Book!; May 15, 2019, review of Let’s Play, Crabby!; April 15, 2020, review of After Squidnight; July 1, 2020, review of A Pig, a Fox, and a Fox; August 1, 2020, review of A Not-So-Scary Monster!; May 15, 2021, review of Something Stinks!; August 15, 2021, review of When Carrot Met Cookie; December 1, 2022, review of A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book; January 15, 2024, review of Do I Have to Go to the Party!; February 1, 2024, review of A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle; October 15, 2024, review of Stop That Mop!; April 1, 2024, review of A Fox, a Pid, and a Dig; November 25, 2024, review of Nothing Scares a Dinosaur.
Publishers Weekly, March 7, 2016, review of Barnacle Is Bored. p. 65; March 18, 2019, review of I Will Race You through This Book!, p. 83; June 1, 2020, review of After Squidnight, p. 61; January 16, 2023, review of A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book, p. 74.
School Library Journal, September, 2021, Myiesha Speight, review of When Carrot Met Cookie, p. 72; November, 2021, Tanya Haynes, review of Nothing Fits a Dinosaur, p. 65; December, 2021, Barbara Auerbach, review of Pill Bug Does Not Need Anybody, p. 83.
ONLINE
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/ (May 18, 2024), Deborah Kalb, “Q&A with Jonathan Fenske.”
Jonathan Fenske website, https://www.jonathanfenske.com (June 4, 2023).
School Library Journal, https://www.slj.com/ (June 7, 2024), Jessica A. Bushore, review of Do I Have to Go to the Party?; (August 1, 2024), Olivia Gorecke, review of Nothing Scares a Dinosaur.
Teaching Books, https://www.teachingbooks.net/ (January 26, 2021), author interview.
Watch. Connect. Read., http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/ (May 22, 2016), author interview.*
YA Books Central, https://yabookscentral.com/ (May 24, 2024), Cherokee Crum, “Author Chat with Jonathan Fenske.”
ABOUT JONATHAN FENSKE
two-time theodor seuss geisel honor-winning author and illustrator
the short version
Jonathan Fenske is the author and illustrator of nearly 40 books for children, including A Crabby Book™ series, part of Scholastic’s Acorn imprint. He is a two-time winner of the Geisel Honor for Nothing Fits a Dinosaur (2022) and A Pig, a Fox and a Box (2016). Twelve of his children’s books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections.
Before he started writing children’s books, Jonathan was a gallery artist, and his paintings have appeared on HGTV.com, in New American Paintings, and are in collections such as the Booth Western Museum and the Arthur Blank Family Foundation. He lives in Greenville, S.C., with his wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters.
the longer version
Jonathan Fenske was born in Florida, so he knows all about life at the beach. The sand and the sea (and one crabby crab) were his inspiration for A Crabby Book™ series, part of Scholastic’s Acorn imprint. He is a two-time winner of the Geisel Honor for Nothing Fits a Dinosaur (2022) and A Pig, a Fox and a Box (2016). Twelve of his children’s books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections.
Jonathan’s picture books include A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle (2024), Do I Have to Go to the Party? (2024), This Tank Is Mine! (2023), I'm Fun, Too! (the first-ever LEGO® picture book), After Squidnight, and the “side-splittingly smelly” Something Stinks!, as well as Barnacle Is Bored and its follow-up, Plankton Is Pushy.
Before he started writing children’s books, Jonathan was a gallery artist, and he was mostly known for painting images of vintage toys in unusual situations. Jonathan’s works have appeared on HGTV.com, in New American Paintings, and are in collections such as the Booth Western Museum and the Arthur Blank Family Foundation.
When his first daughter was born, Jonathan found out he enjoyed reading to her so much, he thought he would try writing and illustrating a children’s book. It’s harder than it looks! These days, Jonathan creates his books from Greenville, S.C. where he lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children. You can find him running (a lot) and hiking mountains (his favorite thing ever).
Before becoming a children’s book author and illustrator, Jonathan was a gallery artist who exhibited his paintings all over the United States. His work has been featured on HGTV.com, in New American Paintings, and in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among other publications. Known for his wry observational paintings using vintage toys, Jonathan’s work is in collections such as the Booth Western Museum and the Arthur Blank Family Foundation.
One of Jonathan’s favorite things to do is sketch with pencil and paper. In fact, all his book illustrations begin with a pencil sketch!
Jonathan holds a BFA in Sculpture from Clemson University.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Q&A with Jonathan Fenske
Photo by Bonfire Visuals
Jonathan Fenske is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle. His other books include A Unicorn, A Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk Into a Book. He lives in South Carolina.
Q: What inspired you to create A Unicorn, A Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle, and did you know when you created the first book about these characters that you'd be doing a second one?
A: I wrote the first book after going to a bookstore and noticing an abundance of children's books had a unicorn, a dinosaur, or a shark as the main character. I thought it might be fun to write a book that contained all three. One-stop shopping, I guess!
I did not know I would be doing a second one when I created the first. But I enjoyed the first so much I thought it would be fun to give a second one a try. The bicycle part came about by trying to imagine an activity common to children that would be ridiculous to consider a unicorn, a dinosaur, or a shark doing!
Q: Did you focus more on the text or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?
A: Typically text comes first for me. It's easier for me to conceptualize the illustrations once I feel I have the text dialed in. On occasion, especially when I create a manuscript for an early reader, the text and illustrations come at the same time, so I create little thumbnail doodles as I write. The first draft ends up being a sketch dummy, basically.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book said, “Fans of the trio’s earlier power struggle will find this one equally entertaining.” What do you think of that description?
A: I love the description of it as a "power struggle!" When I made the first book, I wanted it to be a book where the characters were able to control their narrative instead of having it enacted upon them. So "power struggle" is a great description. (Plus, it is always fun to get a nice review from Kirkus, because they don't pull any punches!)
Q: What first got you interested in creating books for kids?
A: I was a gallery artist (a painter) for the early part of my career, but when I started reading to my oldest daughter I loved it so much I wanted to turn my attention to creating my own books to bring parents and children together. I've always been a writer, so it was a natural progression. After many, many rejections, I sold a manuscript. And here we are, 12 years later!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have several books either publishing later this year or in the pipeline for the next two years. I constantly churn out manuscripts, so I'm always grateful when a concept resonates with an editor. But I also have a lot of projects that don't make the cut!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I know I am very fortunate to be able to create children's books. I love my job, and I am grateful to the teachers, librarians, bloggers, fellow writers, and especially the readers for all the passion they bring to the genre. A kind word from them is my biggest motivation.
Oh, and I love to hike to recharge the creativity. During a hike is probably the most common time an idea comes to me. That, and the middle of the night, when I have to roll out of bed with a groan and write it down before I forget it!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
Author Chat with Jonathan Fenske (A Fox, a Pig, and a Dig), Plus Giveaway! ~ US ONLY!
May 24, 20246 Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Blog Manager and Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Giveaways, Interviews
Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Jonathan Fenske!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Jonathan Fenske
Jonathan Fenske (he/him) is the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winning author and illustrator of easy readers like A Pig, a Fox, and a Box; A Pig, a Fox, and a Fox (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection); We Need More Nuts!; I Will Race You Through This Book!; and more. He is also the author-illustrator of the picture books After Squidnight (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection), Something Stinks!, and A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Walk into a Book! Jonathan lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina. You can visit him online at JonathanFenske.com.
About the Book: A Fox, a Pig, and a Dig
The stars of Jonathan Fenske’s 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, return in another humorous three-part story designed to engage early readers.
As in the precursors to this tale—A Pig, a Fox, and a Box; A Pig, a Fox, and Stinky Socks; and A Pig, a Fox, and a Fox—Jonathan Fenske tells the entertaining story of two friends, Pig and Fox. In this book, Fox plays tricks on Pig at the beach! With comic art and simple language, this title is sure to have kids rolling with laughter. Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone kids need to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent readers.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
The Pig and Fox series is probably a direct result of my love of old Looney Tunes cartoons, where character’s attempts to catch a Road Runner or get the better of Bugs Bunny are always thwarted. (Although I kind of wanted Road Runner to get eaten, or at least nibbled on, if I’m being honest.)
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Probably Fox, because, if nothing else, Fox is persistent. And so am I.
YABC: What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?
In this instance, the characters, because there are three previous Pig and Fox titles. But I was born in Florida near the beach, so ocean themes tend to crop up in many of my books!
YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Easy Readers. Because they are a challenge to do well and there is such a need for them.
YABC: How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
Maybe this is a reflection on my maturity, but I tend to think like a child, so I find it easy to get in that storytelling frame of mind. It probably helps I have five younger siblings I often babysat when I was a young man!
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
I hope they find a story well told in a humorous way. If I make a reader laugh, then I am very happy!
YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
I think I would be friends with Pig, because I appreciate Pig’s patience. And I would be friends with Fox as well, because I appreciate Fox’s love of a prank (and most of my pranks backfire, too!).
YABC: What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?
“Juxtaposition.” Years of art school critiques have made me strongly dislike the overuse of that word. “The juxtaposition of lights and darks and blah, blah, blah.” Enough already!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Well, I have several projects in the works, and three more books coming out in the next year or so, but I’m really excited about getting to hike Mount Whitney in August. Hiking is my favorite way to recharge!
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
I would like to add a huge THANK YOU to the teachers, librarians and readers who make the children’s book world go ‘round! Their words and letters of encouragement keep me going!
Title: A Fox, a Pig, and a Dig
Author: Jonathan Fenske
Illustrator: Jonathan Fenske
Release Date: May 21, 2024
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers; Penguin Workshop
ISBN-13: 9780593661215
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Age Range: Ages 5-7
Fenske, Jonathan THIS TANK IS MINE! Scholastic (Children's None) $17.99 9, 5 ISBN: 9781338892437
Sharing can be hard.
With a satisfied smirk, a self-assured angelfish shows off its tank. A cave, a treasure chest, an ornamental diver: Everything here is a prized possession. Then, with a sudden "PLOP!" a smaller goldfish is dropped in--and is promptly warned off every item, even down to a tiny piece of gravel. The newcomer's very polite request for just one pebble is grudgingly granted, in return for a commitment to "stop touching my stuff." The grateful goldfish immediately turns the little rock into a pet and offers the one thing the angelfish doesn't have: friendship. They share the pet pebble and play with it together, using the treasure chest, the cave, and even the bubbles produced by the toy diver. The arrival of three more little fish and a snail causes a moment of suspense: Will the angelfish regress to selfish bullying? Looks like our hero has learned a much-needed lesson. The bright blue cartoon angelfish dominates every scene, its big mouth and expressive eyebrows comically conveying its various moods. The first in a projected series, this tale offers a sound takeaway sure to resonate with its young audience. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A gentle and amusing adventure in socialization, with a happy but not unrealistic outcome. (Picture book. 3-5)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Fenske, Jonathan: THIS TANK IS MINE!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A760508295/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=68831413. Accessed 2 May 2025.
* Try a Bite, Trilobite! By Jonathan Fenske. Illus. by the author. 2023. 32p. Simon 8c Schuster/Simon Spotlight, $17.99 (9781665932660). PreS-Gr. 1.
Cooking up its own Green Eggs and Ham scenario, this hilarious Ready-to-Read book focuses on friendship, conflict resolution, and, most important, cupcakes. Bug is excited to share his tasty cupcake with his pal, Trilobite. Unfortunately, Trilobite doesn't like trying new foods, preferring to stick to a reliable diet of noodles. Bug does his best to entice Trilobite ("It's probably the best snack ever!") before trying--unsuccessfully--to trap his stubborn friend with logic: "How do you KNOW you only like noodles?" "What will you eat if you run out of noodles?" Trilobite confidently states, "I will NEVER run out of noodles" and flashes his lifetime membership card to the Noodle of the Month Club. When Trilobite refuses to try even a crumb, Bug gives up and takes a big, delicious bite himself--so good that he sinks to the ground in bliss. That gets Trilobite's attention. He finally takes a timid taste, followed by an enthusiastic CHOMP! that effectively demonstrates that trying something new isn't so bad. Styled much like Elephant and Piggie books, the cartoonish illustrations showcase the characters' expressive faces and funny interactions, setting them against solid color backgrounds. The limited text appears stricdy as speech-bubble dialogue and features repetition well suited for new readers and young graphic novel fans. With his latest, Geisel Honor Book author-illustrator Fenske again takes the cake.--Rosie Camargo
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Camargo, Rosie. "Try a Bite, Trilobite!" Booklist, vol. 120, no. 5-6, 1 Nov. 2023, pp. 70+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774988477/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c5f4e254. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Fenske, Jonathan DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE PARTY? Scholastic (Children's None) $17.99 3, 5 ISBN: 9781338892444
Poppy the Pufferfish has a party problem!
Poppy has agreed to go to a birthday party for Baby Guppy. But Poppy is worried. Parties make Poppy nervous and prompt a series of what ifs. "What if I wear the wrong hat? What if I bring the wrong gift? What if I swim around with a big pink glob of cupcake icing on my face and no one tells me?" Although Poppy attends the soiree and is greeted warmly, the other fish are exchanging hushed whispers. Has Poppy done something wrong? No, but there definitely is a party problem, and it's one that Poppy is perfectly equipped to solve. For all Poppy's fretting, the humorous solution thrills Baby Guppy and makes Poppy the star of the party. The minimal text contains a pleasing sense of repetition as Poppy worries over and over about the same what ifs. The book's small trim size makes it ideal for one-on-one reading; caregivers can snuggle up with little ones for a read-aloud and help young readers work through their own nervousness about new experiences. The eye-catching fish are varied and brightly colored. Most illustrations show the fishy characters highlighted against colorful ovals reminiscent of a goldfish bowl.
An appealing tale to help little ones grappling with anxiety. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Fenske, Jonathan: DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE PARTY?" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779191232/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=438923ff. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Fenske, Jonathan A UNICORN, A DINOSAUR, AND A SHARK WERE RIDING A BICYCLE Penguin Workshop (Children's None) $18.99 3, 19 ISBN: 9780593519493
The titular characters walk into another book, with all the snarky attitude from their 2023 debut.
As an off-page narrator pushes for the story advertised by the title, Unicorn, Dinosaur, and Shark wrestle for narrative control, protesting that they were not even talking about riding a bicycle. The speaker insists on action--even just "DREAMING about how much fun it would be to ride a bicycle." But the trio retort that the unicorn was dreaming about "beautiful rainbows," and the others were thinking about snacks. The narrator snaps, "That is BORING," but Unicorn seizes the book and starts telling the story of three friends who want to relax and dream of rainbows and snacks (this last is depicted as an adorable kitten) but keep getting pestered. Although the three characters are quite pleased, the narrator is disgusted ("Ugh"), and so is the kitten, clad in a rainbow T-shirt, who storms over to ride the bicycle. As the three grin and eye the feline, ready to pounce (the rainbow-loving unicorn's excited by the kitten's shirt; the other two view the cat as food), the kitty skitters off, leaving the bicycle and sarcastically urging the others to "enjoy the rest of your book." Sherbet colors and Fenske's zany cartoon style add to the madcap meta-textual fun.
Fans of the trio's earlier power struggle will find this one equally entertaining. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Fenske, Jonathan: A UNICORN, A DINOSAUR, AND A SHARK WERE RIDING A BICYCLE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A780840909/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5673047a. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Fenske, Jonathan A FOX, A PIG, AND A DIG Penguin Workshop (Children's None) $5.99 5, 21 ISBN: 9780593661215
Fox and Pig have some fun--and laughs--in the sun.
Perky pals Fox and Pig, with Fox's doll (Mister Fox) in tow, decide to head to the beach. Pig enjoys napping (and slurping on a refreshing beverage). Fox, on the other hand, prefers to dig. While Pig slumbers, Fox attempts to trick his porcine friend by making a sand sculpture of himself and pretending to be buried under it. That scheme ultimately backfires, but Fox isn't deterred. He tries again. This time he digs a hole to hide in, throws Mister Fox into the sea, and screams for help. As the tide comes in, Fox's hole fills with water, and he uses a straw to breathe. Pig isn't fooled--"I know THAT fox is just a doll"--and decides to cool off by jumping into the small pool. Oh no. He lands on a lump. Is that Fox underneath him or a creature from the sea? As with others in this series, color-coded speech bubbles, rhymes, and word repetition help support (and entertain) emerging readers. Fenske uses a simple, limited vocabulary, with a few longer words such as underneath, creature, and COWABUNGA. This three-part romp (more like two with a short third) takes familiar characters to a summery new setting. The silent crab character provides extra comedic relief while witnessing the cartoonish antics.
A breath of fresh air for the series. (Early reader. 5-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Fenske, Jonathan: A FOX, A PIG, AND A DIG." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A788096723/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=47ba4c70. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Fenske, Jonathan STOP THAT MOP! Simon Spotlight (Children's None) $18.99 1, 7 ISBN: 9781665932721
An inventive riff on "The Gingerbread Boy," featuring the phoneme made famous byHop on Pop.
A disgruntled mop is done with the brown "SLOP" and green "GLOP" that a pig continues to "DROP." The mop gleefully decides to "RUN! Run far away!" and blithely bids the pig farewell. The pig's cry of "STOP THAT MOP" summons a bunny, a pony, and a fish. Though they "HOP," "CLOP," and "FLOP," their efforts are in vain. (The fish sports a water-filled helmet so that it can give chase alongside the others.) Although the put-upon mop initially evokes readers' sympathy (who wouldn't want to flee a life of cleaning up slop?), its repeated cry of overweening pride--"But you will NEVER stop this mop!"--eventually calls out for comeuppance. A stop sign is ready to provide it. Though the sign tries to warn the escapee of an impending "DROP," the mop is too full of self-importance to listen. Predictably but satisfyingly, the mop falls off the cliff but fortunately lands ("PLOP") on a blue, vaguely peacock-ish bird passing by. The mop is exuberantly unrepentant, giddily flying off on the bird. Cartoon-style art boldly foregrounds the major players, setting them against minimal backgrounds and giving the mop a distinct personality. This masterful romp makes the very most of its limited vocabulary, entertaining even adult readers while offering beginners humor, suspense, and just plain fun.
Laugh-out-loud fare for burgeoning readers and a rollicking celebration of the rebellious spirit.(Early reader. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Fenske, Jonathan: STOP THAT MOP!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A811898612/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c0f8782c. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Fenske, Jonathan NOTHING SCARES A DINOSAUR Simon Spotlight (Children's None) $17.99 8, 27 ISBN: 9781665932691
The protagonist ofNothing Fits a Dinosaur (2021) returns--as full of confidence and pizzazz as ever.
It's bedtime, and the young narrator--who's brown-skinned with curly dark hair--adheres to a reassuring routine that involves a bath, a story, and being tucked in by Momma. But once the child is alone in the dark, sounds and shadows begin to seem ominous. As a mechanical toy casts a terrifying silhouette, the protagonist repeats the titular mantra and boasts, "I can make one twice as tall!" The narrator then transforms into a large, orange dino resembling a T. rex and bravely confronts other threats--a monster, a "closet beast with fuzzy paws," a spider, stormy weather--and even menaces the family cat. Alert readers will enjoy spotting the sassy feline sticking out a tongue when comeuppance arrives for its pursuer. But--spoiler alert--our hero backs down when, offstage, "Mommasaurus" finally roars, "GET IN BED! TURN OFF THE LIGHT!" and the narrator sensibly complies. Rhyming text (with a few dissimilar word pairs such asyawn/on) in an irresistible four-beat rhythm makes the pages fly by. The artwork is suffused in bright, saturated colors, and frequent shifts from close-up to mid-distance perspective help keep readers' attention.
A humorous and relatable tale that will motivate readers to battle on to the end.(Early reader. 4-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Fenske, Jonathan: NOTHING SCARES A DINOSAUR." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A815560370/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7685515e. Accessed 2 May 2025.
How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas
Erica S. Pearl, author
Jonathan Fenske, illustrator
Penguin Workshop c/o Penguin Young Readers Group https://www.penguin.com
9780593662366, $18.99, HC, 40pp https://www.amazon.com/How-Carrot-Cookie-Saved-Christmas/dp/0593662369
Synopsis: Christmas is fast approaching, and Carrot and Cookie are both worried--they can't find the right present for each other! But when they hear a crash on Christmas Eve and find a sick Santa too ill to keep flying his sleigh, they know there are more important matters at hand. Can these friends conjure up enough Christmas magic to step into Santa's shoes, deliver the presents themselves, and save the day?
Critique: A festive pun-filled story ideal for the Christmas holidays, "How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas" is a sequel to author/storyteller Erica S. Pearl and artist/illustrator' Jonathan Fenske's "When Carrot Met Cookie". Both funny and heartwarming. "How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Christmas themed picture book collections for children ages 4-8. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "How carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas" from Penguin Workshop is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Erica S. Perl (www.ericaperl.com) is the author of more than forty popular and critically acclaimed books for children. She has also collaborated on books with Dolly Parton and R.J. Palacio. Erica teaches writing in the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program and lives in Washington, DC, with her family.
Editorial Note #2: Jonathan Fenske (www.jonathanfenske.com) is the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winning author-illustrator of A Pig, a Fox, and a Box; I Will Race You Through This Book!; After Squidnight; Something Stinks!; and more.
Mr. Santa
Jarvis, author/illustrator
Candlewick Press www.candlewick.com
9781536238839, $17.99, HC, 32pp https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Santa-Jarvis/dp/153623883X
Synopsis: Mr. Santa? Is it really you? / Did you read my letter? / And have you wiped your shoes?
When a little girl comes face-to-face with Santa in her own house, she can hardly believe it! After inviting him into her world (Do you want to meet my fishes? Do you want to hear me play?) comes that universal wish (Can I ride your sleigh?). With the two of them aloft, questions continue to fly: Can Santa eat clouds? Does he stop at traffic lights? Is his belly button innie or outie? Does he take a teddy to bed?
With signature warmth and a gentle visual humor, Jarvis channels the excitement of every child who has dreamed of meeting the jolly, generous old soul who personifies the most magical night of the year.
Critique: An original and fun read from start to finish, this hardcover edition of "Mr. Santa" by British author/illustrator Jarvis will prove a welcome and highly prized addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Christmas themed picture book collections for children ages 3-7. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mr. Santa" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Jarvis (www.byjarvis.com) is the creator of the picture books Alan's Big, Scary Teeth; Tropical Terry; Follow Me, Flo!; The Boy with Flowers in His Hair; and Thank You, among others. He is also the author-illustrator of a series of chapter books about Bear and Bird and the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree, Pick a Pumpkin, Pick a Perfect Egg, and Together with You, all by Patricia Toht, as well as Oh, Are You Awake? by Bob Shea. An animator who has worked as a record jacket designer and an animation director, Jarvis lives in Manchester, England.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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"How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas." Children's Bookwatch, Dec. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A822840331/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=88016171. Accessed 2 May 2025.
Stop That Mop!
By Jonathan Fenske. Illus. by the author.
Jan. 2025. 32p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Spotlight, $18.99
(9781665932721). PreS-Gr. 1.
In this playful, rhythmic read that makes learning fun while reinforcing important sound patterns, the story revolves around a stubborn mop that gets tired of mopping. Refusing to clean up the glop and slop that the pig drops, the mop runs away. It encounters many different creatures in its journey. The pig, the bunny, the fishy, the pony, and even the stop sign all try creative ways to stop the mop using words like hop, clop, flop, and plop, but the mop just keeps going! A surprise ending will make it easy for readers to delight in this engaging easy-reader book, perfect for young learners practicing the -op sound. Simple text and repetitive words make this an excellent tool for building phonics skills. The lively, colorful illustrations and silly situations will keep kids entertained as they follow the mop's unstoppable journey. Perfect for beginner readers who are just starting to connect letters and sounds--and who enjoy humorous stories!
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Jara, Alana. "Stop That Mop!" Booklist, vol. 121, no. 9-10, Jan. 2025, pp. 69+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A829739521/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f4c9fa19. Accessed 2 May 2025.
FICTION Do I Have to Go to the Party?
by Jonathan Fenske (text) & illus. by Jonathan Fenske
Scholastic. (Fish Tank Friends). Mar. 2024. 40p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781338892444.COPY ISBN PreS-Gr 2–Fenske continues his “Fish Tank Friends” series with a second book focusing on conquering social anxiety. Poppy the Puffer Fish just received a birthday party invitation from Baby Guppy. The potential for embarrassment has Poppy very anxious. When Poppy gets upset, there is so much to worry about, like any puffer fish. How to dress? Which gift is best? Poppy goes to the party but quickly notices other guests whispering. Is it about Poppy? It isn’t Poppy, it’s missing party supplies, and Poppy is able to solve the problem and save the party. There was no reason to be nervous after all. An easy reading level accommodates both young and reluctant readers. Working within a palette of bright pastels, Fenske shows Poppy’s every emotional nuance through the puffer fish’s face and body. A gentle message explains everybody gets nervous but anxiety can be overcome. As a two-time Geisel Honor recipient, Fenske is tuned in to the needs of young children, once again delivering amusement and reassurance in equal measure. VERDICT A winning series continues targeting young readers who need help processing emotions, making this an essential purchase. Reviewed by Jessica A. Bushore , Jun 07, 2024
FICTION Nothing Scares a Dinosaur: Ready-to-Read Level 1by Jonathan Fenske (text) & illus. by Jonathan Fenske
Simon Spotlight/S. & S./. (Ready-to-Read). Aug. 2024. 32p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781665932691; pap. $4.99. ISBN 9781665932684.COPY ISBN PreS-Gr 2–As a young child is tucked in bed for the evening, he envisions himself as a dinosaur. In this charming and creative sequel to Geisel Award Honor–winning Nothing Fits a Dinosaur, a young boy with brown skin has no fear after his teeth are brushed and bath time is complete. Laying awake, he can’t help but hear a scratch behind the closet door and see a giant shadow on the wall. Fortunately, his dinosaur alter ego is ready for any challenge, and he responds to the intruders with a flick of his tail, stomp of the feet, and a mighty ROAR! Mommasaurus soon hears the commotion and reminds her dear dino that it is lights out. The concluding image reveals that the earlier disturbances were simply toys and other items in the child’s room. Each spread includes one to four rhyming sentences with a range of three to 12 words. Young readers will delight in the child’s innovative response to lighthearted bedtime fears, while caregivers will relate to Mommasaurus’s requests for quiet. VERDICT This winning book is certain to be a bedtime favorite, alongside Jane Yolen’s How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and Rhiannon Fielding’s Little Dinosaur (Ten Minutes to Bed).Reviewed by Olivia Gorecke , Aug 01, 2024
FICTION How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas by Erica S Perl (text) & illus. by Jonathan Fenske Penguin Workshop. Oct. 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593662366.COPY ISBN Gr 1-3–It’s Christmas Eve, and best friends Carrot and Cookie don’t have gifts for each other yet. Each one consults a friend: Carrot asks Pickle, who says, “It’s no big dill,” while Cookie asks Cupcake, whose ideas are a bit “half-baked.” Carrot and Cookie gather for their annual sleepover and are about to tell each other the sad truth, when Santa lands his sleigh outside with a jolly “Ho-ho-ho...achoo!” They rush out to find Santa sneezing and, to their wide-eyed amazement, about to cancel Christmas. Carrot muses, “If reindeer can fly, why can’t vegetables?” It turns out they can, and Carrot urges them on to pull Santa’s sleigh: “On Eggplant! On Scallion! On Corn and Zucchini! On Lettuce! On Okra! And on Broccolini!” Christmas is saved. This pun-filled romp with delightfully goofy characters and charming illustrations will crack kids up with its silly humor. Sharp-eyed readers will also notice visual puns scattered throughout the book, such as googly-eyed candy canes serving as sleigh runners. The one unexplained oddity—why Santa and his reindeer appear to be made of gingerbread—is a minor flaw in an otherwise worthwhile story. VERDICT A warmhearted holiday story of an unexpected friendship, filled with silly puns and lots of laughs. Reviewed by Haley Amendt , Sep 27, 2024