Animals don't, so I won't!

Format:

Book

Title:

Animals don't, so I won't!

Other title(s):

Animals do not, so I will not!

Author:

Derrick, David G., 1978-

ISBN:

9781597020299

Edition:

1st hardcover ed.

Publication Information:

San Francisco : Immedium, 2012.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 27 cm

Summary:

"Benjamin is a young boy who pretends to become different animals to avoid cleaning his room and eating his dinner, so his mother must match his transformations and his wits"--Provided by publisher.

Subject(s):

Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction.

Animal behavior -- Juvenile fiction.

Mother and child -- Juvenile fiction.

Imagination -- Juvenile fiction.

Behavior -- Fiction.

Animals -- Habits and behavior -- Fiction.

Mother and child -- Fiction.

Imagination -- Fiction.

Genre:

Picture books for children.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Monmouth Public Library	DERRICK	Searching... Unknown

It's not unusual that a son doesn't listen to his mother. However, it is extraordinary that both astoundingly transform into animals to make their points!

Ben loved pretending he was an animal. But when his mom said, "clean up for dinner," Ben claimed, "Animals don't, so I won't." However, he didn't expect two could play the same game! Next child and parent transform into penguins, leopards, bears, and more animals in a humorous and enlightening dance of wits. This inventive tale reinvents the familiar bedtime routine.

Both adults and kids will enjoy this amusing adventure, illustrated in colorful watercolors by an accomplished Disney and DreamWorks animator. An engaging twist on the "he said, she said" narrative delivers interesting facts about animal behavior with welcome doses of knowing understanding and humor. The author, a father with two kids, draws from personal experience to sympathize with both sides in the running (and swimming) debate.

This contest is like Ben10 meeting Dr. Doolittle! This game of "Catch me if you can" will make a satisfying storytime for parents, grandparents, caregivers, elementary school teachers, and children's librarians.

"My boys love this story; they listen to it while hanging like a sloth or roaring like a lion... the story is imaginative and sparks their imaginations and the artwork is simply wonderful."
- Geek Mom

Author Notes

David Derrick is the author of the children's picture books Sid the Squid and the Search for the Perfect Job, I'm the Scariest Thing in the Jungle, and Play with your Food. A story artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios, David worked on the movies Moana and new The Lion King. At DreamWorks Animation, he worked on the films Megamind, How to Train Your Dragon, and Rise of the Guardians, based on the book by William Joyce.

A sculptor of wildlife in bronze, he studied fine art at the University of Utah and graduated from California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS), where his films garnered many awards including a student Emmy.

Cartoon Brew reviewed Sid the Squid: "this charming book reads like a classic animated feature that never was...Fun, and with an inspiring message. Perfect for kids of all ages."

Reviews (2)

Horn Book Review

Ben pretends he's various animals to avoid doing things he's sure an animal wouldn't do (e.g., take a bath). His mom repeatedly turns the tables on him with her knowledge of real animal behavior. Some of her comebacks are bizarre (she gives him a tongue bath like a leopard), and the repetitive gag grows tiresome. Unfinished-looking watercolors capture Ben's stubborn demeanor. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

A knowledgeable mother turns the tables on her balky son by pointing out what animals DO. As the appealing cover shows, animal-loving Ben likes to pretend he's wild himself. He won't clean his room until his mother reminds him that as a beetle, he'll have to clean up elephant dung. He pretends to be a penguin that won't eat his lasagna until his mother pretends to barf up fish for him. And so forth. The animals and their actions are well-chosen for child appeal. Pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor wash combine realistic images with the fantasy of this parent-child game. Both the people and the creatures in Derrick's art have plenty of attitude. The pace of storytelling varies. Most episodes take two double-page spreads, but others conclude more quickly. Although the narrative threatens to end predictably, with baby chimps rocking in their bedtime nests, there's a surprise: Dawn comes early for roosters. The parent-child dialogue is indicated by different typefaces, and the illustrations include irresistible animal noises from Bzztt! to Oohh Eee Ooh, just asking for repeat listeners to chime in. The clever premise of this well-worked-out story is likely to appeal as much to adults as to the children they get to share it with. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Author Notes

Reviews (2)

Horn Book Review

Kirkus Review