Me and Annie McPhee

March 28, 2016
Dunrea (the Gossie & Friends series) and Hillenbrand (the Bear and Mole books) assemble a cast of eccentric animals in this cumulative counting story narrated by a binoculars-toting monkey. He and another monkey, Annie McPhee, live on a tiny island where, “in the middle of the sea,/ as far as the eye could see,/ there was nothing to see but sea.” The spot is idyllic until several uninvited guests start to arrive, including “two wee dogs who thought they were frogs,” “three perky pigs all wearing wigs,” and “four frumpy hens hunched with their pens.” Rather than interact with their visitors, the monkeys look on from a distance, eventually deciding that the island has become too crowded and hitching a ride with a passing whale. Hillenbrand, working in pencil and digital media, is fully in step with the playful absurdity of Dunrea’s verse as he pictures seven pink snails sliding down a shale rock face, eight sleepwalking sheep dressed in striped nightshirts, and other quirky groupings. It’s light, cheery fun, full of verbal and visual silliness. Ages 3–7.

April 1, 2016
Two curious monkeys think they are alone on an island in the middle of the sea. The narrating monkey stares through a pair of binoculars and begins the repeating refrain: "In the middle of the sea, / as far as the eye could see, / there was nothing to see / but sea." Quite full for a deserted spot, the tiny island the monkeys are stranded on has a volcano, a cave, boulders, and three coconut trees. With each page turn, however, animals start to emerge from the crevasses, so the narrator needs to adjust the ever expanding, cumulative verse. Suddenly there are also "two wee dogs who thought they were frogs" and "three perky pigs all wearing wigs." From one to 10, more and more animals come, painted with exuberant anthropomorphism by Hillenbrand (the punk-tressed pigs in grass skirts are a special treat). He plants cues in his mottled, digital spreads to help observant readers predict what creature may come next. Annie McPhee (the narrator's original monkey pal) grows increasingly worried as the crowd expands. By the time "ten rascally rats skipping in hats" come prancing by, poor Annie McPhee has had enough. A certain spout on the cover (and dedication page) hints at the monkeys' escape plan. There's not much new under the sun, or in the sea, but a bouncy rhythm--and full-on shouted conclusion--can't be beat. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2016

PreS-K-This amusing cumulative counting tale about two curious monkeys-"Me and Annie McPhee, who was no bigger than me"-begins on a seemingly deserted island. The tranquility is disturbed by an ever-increasing list of ridiculous, and always rhyming, animals that come out from their hiding places to frolic. Dunrea counts from "two wee dogs who thought they were frogs" up to "ten rascally rats skipping in hats," and the mayhem grows until Annie McPhee just can't take it anymore. The repetitive and rhyming text bounces along, inviting readers to chime in at the end of each phrase. The repetition is used well to introduce and reinforce the wonderful adjectives and verbs peppered throughout, such as frumpy and sleek, chomping, and creeping. The jewel-tone cartoon illustrations elevate the text by adding a layer of humor; "three perky pigs all wearing wigs" are even more hilarious because of their colorful grass skirts and their shockingly bright rocker wigs. With a combination of graphite pencil and digital techniques, Hillenbrand uses movement and excellent composition to help readers navigate the increasingly chaotic illustrations. His textured and playful art is chock-full of great details, making this work ripe for rereading. Observant kids will revel in the visual clues that foreshadow the animal to follow. VERDICT Preschoolers and kindergartners will delight in this two-in-one cumulative counting tale that's just right for reading aloud.-Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.