Eli, No!

September 12, 2011
Kirk, one half of the graphic design team Eight Hour Day, debuts with a squeaky clean ode (as far as design, anyway) to a troublemaking dog. Eli, a sleek brown pup inspired by Kirk’s pet, “is a good dog, but sometimes bad.” (Opposing pages hold blue ribbons and trophies on one side, an “F-” report card from obedience school and a wanted poster on the other.) “What do we say when we get mad? Eli, no! When he eats too much? Eli, no!” Amid the call-and-answer prose, Eli is shown causing havoc (in a very tidy, designy kind of way): lolling amid spilled groceries, bite marks in most everything; chasing a squirrel past prim rows of trees and flowers; and stretched out over a bright yellow bed defined by just a few lines. The retro-meets-modern aesthetic is crisp almost to the point of being sterile, with details reduced to the barest minimum possible. But the bright colors, fun format, and never-in-doubt answer regarding whether Eli is still loved should attract hip families who love both dogs and design. Ages 3–6.

August 15, 2011

Geometric shapes, matte colors and few words tell the story of a beloved but not entirely trained pup.

The right-hand page of nearly each spread holds the title words in bold color: It is what Eli hears when he chases a squirrel, hogs the bed and makes a fuss. There is a big, bold yes at the end, of course, to assure the doggie and readers that he is loved. Toddlers are not likely to be beguiled by the message of yes-you're-bad-sometimes-but-we-love-you-anyway—they're probably quite familiar with David Shannon's sublime No, David! (1998)—but they will be taken happily by the pictures. There's Eli lying on his back surrounded by the great number of food items he has taken one big bite out of, and there he is, going where he shouldn't, in a clearly delineated if graphically abstract flower bed. And he really does hog the bright-yellow bed in the great blue room. They will no doubt also be delighted by the path of destruction Eli leaves through his house, where furniture and household objects in bright array are scattered behind him. The words "The End" appear just over Eli's own hindquarters as he moves on to the next adventure.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

November 1, 2011

PreS-K-Eli is a mischievous dog. From overeating to chasing squirrels, the refrain of "Eli, no!" will get children joining in. The final "Of course, Eli, yes!" will reassure kids that, like the pup, they are loved even when they aren't perfectly behaved. There is a retro feel to the minimalist, bold illustrations that match the simple rhyming story. Amusing details like a fat belly on Eli when he overeats and a one-armed teddy bear when he "doesn't play nice" make this a fun read-aloud for small groups and lapsits.-Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2011
Preschool-K Kids love a good storybook refrain, and what could be better than getting to say No! over and over again? Kirk's debut picture book about the foibles of Eli, a black Labrador, covers all the usual bad-dog basesincluding eating food he wasn't served and being very loudand illustrates them with wit and vibrant colors. Each turn of the page shows and describes the errant behavior on the left and features the words Eli, no! on the right. The illustrations are crisp and clean, contrasting, for instance, the dog's big dark body sprawled across a bright yellow bedspread. Eli doesn't seem too bothered by the rebukes. He knows he'll be getting a sweet, if figurative, pat on the head: Though he may whine and take up the bed / Chase squirrels, dig holes, and plead underfed / Trash teddies and toys, make many a mess . . . / Do they still love me? / Of course, Eli, yes! The last scene reveals a battered living room with Eli making his swift and sly exit.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)