August 15, 2017
Lemmings don't jump off cliffs; someone just needs to tell the lemmings.Foxy, a crew member aboard the aptly named S.S. Cliff (a container ship that happens to be a whale), reads a fascinating book about lemmings. The book says that lemmings do not jump off cliffs. But when Foxy relates this tidbit to Capt. PB (presumably short for "Polar Bear"), three stubby little lemmings hear the word "jump" and gleefully throw themselves overboard. "Jump? I'll jump!" / "Me too!" / "Ditto!" Foxy fishes them out and urges them to read the book so they can see for themselves that lemmings do not jump off cliffs. "Jump? I'll jump!" / "Me too!" / "Ditto!" Off they go, over the side. "I don't think they read the book," Capt. PB says ruefully. After a few more foolish leaps, each one more perilous than the next ("Sinking! Sinking fast!" / "Me too!" / "Glub!"), Foxy realizes the lemmings cannot read. He works with them until they can all comprehend the most important words in the book: "Lemmings DON'T jump off cliffs," (earning a thumbs-up from curmudgeon Capt. PB). OHora applies his customary matte paints to his Arctic Ocean scenes, peach skies, teal seas, and white icebergs dominating the backgrounds. Foxy and Capt. PB make convincing if fuzzy tars, the lemmings look like tribbles with faces and stubby little legs, and it's nice to see a real working vessel in a picture book. Delightfully imparts the joy and discovery of reading--and many chuckles and guffaws. (Picture book. 4-8)
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Starred review from September 11, 2017
This latest crackpot comedy from the duo behind Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! stars three highly suggestible lemmings, a whale moonlighting as a freighter, a polar bear captain, and a fox first mate. The opening endpapers show a large sign about lemmings posted on an iceberg. “People used to think lemmings jumped off cliffs,” it says. “Now we know they don’t.” Across from the sign, a lemming jumps off a cliff. “Wonder what that says,” it muses, midair. “Me, too!” says the second. “Ditto!” says the third. The lemmings land aboard the freighter, where Foxy the mate reads from Everything About Lemmings: “Says here, lemmings don’t jump off cliffs.” Too bad the lemmings hear only “jump.” Foxy has to stage multiple rescues: “Why didn’t you read the book, lemmings?!” Though he teaches the three to read, the lemmings are always one step ahead (or behind). OHora’s scratchy, comically stiff figures and poker-faced humor beautifully embody the tale’s essential absurdity. And the lemmings’ final victory affirms that progress is possible even for the terminally silly. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Scott Treimel, Scott Treimel N.Y. Illustrator’s agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary.
October 15, 2017
Preschool-G The creators of Wolfie the Bunny (2015) and Horrible Bear! (2016) have churned out another goofy picture book guaranteed to please. Captain Polar Bear and First Mate Foxy spend their days reading and fishing on their whale-shaped boat, the SS Cliff. While perusing Everything about Lemmings, Foxy casually mentions that lemmings don't jump off cliffs; whereupon three of these fuzzy rodents immediately careen overboard. Annoyed, Foxy plucks the lemmings from the icy waters and strongly urges them to read his book, but every time Foxy utters the word jump, they do just that. Several increasingly harrowing rescues follow, until Foxy realizes the trio can't read and sits them down for a lesson. OHora's bold acrylic art employs strong lines and accents, bright colors, and expressive faces that add to the book's whimsical humor. The lemmings (Jumper, Me Too, and Ditto, distinguished only by hat color) are particularly appealing, as is the boat's rescue equipment, which includes a large crane and a helicopter that launches from a deck of books. Literacy, laughs, and a light touch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2018
Reading from �cf2]Everything About Lemmings�cf1], First Mate Foxy of the S.S. �cf2]Cliff�cf1] says: "lemmings �cf2]don't�cf1] jump off cliffs." Three onboard lemmings overhear one word: "Jump? I'll jump!" After saving his impulsive shipmates, Foxy demands, "Read the book, lemmings!" What Foxy doesn't know is the little guys �cf2]can't�cf1] read. Dyckman's text is entertainingly patterned (if somewhat confusing), and OHora's limited-color acrylic illustrations play up the slapstick.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from September 1, 2017
PreS-Gr 2-Another delightful collaboration by the team behind Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! This story is set in the Arctic on a whale-shaped boat and it focuses on a trio of lemmings named Jumper, Me Too!, and Ditto!, who do not know that lemmings do not jump off of things because they cannot read. After repeated failed admonishments to get the lemmings to read the book, Everything About Lemmings, Foxy realizes that he has to actually teach the active lemmings to read before he can stop them from jumping off of the boat. OHora's charming illustrations with their primary color palette perfectly match Dyckman's playful text to produce a funny read-aloud that will hold up to multiple readings. The layouts are full of fun details and the animals' facial expressions are priceless. VERDICT Children will enjoy this at storytime and again on their own at home. A first purchase for all libraries.-Sarah Wilsman, Bainbridge Library, Chagrin Falls, OH
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.