Shaun the Sheep

September 1, 2014

Gr 1-4-The popular character from the animated television series is up to his usual antics in this original story. Shaun is helping his friend Shirley overcome stage fright in order to compete in and win the farm talent show, but the rooster and chickens have different plans, doing all they can to ensure that none of the sheep take the prize. Struggling readers will enjoy the quick-paced story, the humor, the rivalry between the sheep and the chickens, and the black-and-white cartoons that appear on almost every page. This early chapter book is sure to circulate.-John Trischitti, Midland County Public Libraries, TX

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October 1, 2014
It's sheep vs. chicken in a farmyard talent showdown! Film studio Aardman's Shaun the sheep and the other denizens of the barnyard at Mossy Bottom Farm are having a normal day...well a normal-for-them day: Bitzer the sheepdog is listening to his headphones, and Timmy the lamb is flying a kite made of underwear (with disastrous results). The Farmer suddenly gets excited about something he's read in the newspaper, a Mossy Bottom's Got Talent competition. He straight away starts practicing his balloon animals; unfortunately, they all look deformed. Shaun and company decide to have their own talent show, which becomes a sheep-vs.-chicken throwdown when the chickens laugh quite cruelly at Shirley the sheep's dance-act practice. Things look dismal for the sheep in the competition until Shaun hears Shirley singing...but after her embarrassment in front of the chickens, can he convince her to sing in front of the whole farm? The characters from the television show (and upcoming movie) Shaun the Sheep induce smiles in this first in a tie-in series. Much like the stop-motion shows, there is no dialogue to speak of; all is narration and description. The sight gags Aardman projects are famous for work surprisingly well in this mostly text/comics hybrid tale. Fans will be in sheep-y stitches. (final art and activities not seen) (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 5-8)

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