Dev Petty

This book is wryly funny and full of heart. A young frog thinks life would be better if he were another sort of critter. He doesn't see anything positive about being wet, slimy and full of bugs until a hungry wolf helps him find self-acceptance. I love the use of perspective in this story. It's common for children to experiment with identities and wish they were someone, or something, else. It's a wise parent who indulges this imaginative play, then helps them appreciate the good things show more about being who they really are. This books is a wonderful illustration of that process. show less

In this brilliant companion to CLAYMATES, the familiar lumps of gray and brown clay make clay creations of their own: the brown one makes a blue and green dragon (who adds a horn to become a unicorn dragon), but the gray clay's effort looks less like a knight and more like a potato. "Brave Sir Potato" and the dragon (who's eating all the treasure in its lair) have their own adventures, while the originals reckon with their differences in artistic ability.

"Why are you so much better at this show more than me? It's not fair!"
"It doesn't matter who's better. We're playing."
"You're right. Sir Potato is...one of a kind."

Just a delight from cover to cover, with some of the most unique picture book art out there. (The author and illustrator dedicated this one to each other, awww.) show less

First sentence: Chip here. I have been described as very smart and also a dog.

Premise/plot: Chip has plenty of advice for others--mainly dogs--wanting to be their best dog selves. But his number one piece of advice is: don't trust cats.

My thoughts: What you see is exactly what you get. A humorous dog doesn't like cats story with everything you are probably expecting. Readers can ask themselves plenty of questions like IS CHIP A SMART DOG????? Is he reliable in his advice? Is it good? smart? show more wise? Or are there flaws in his logic. The book is GREAT at capturing dog point of view in a humorous, amusing way. But be sure to read between the lines! show less

A brilliant, different sort of picture book: the two characters are a gray and a brown ball of clay, respectively. A pair of hands and some tools appear to transform the gray lump into a wolf and the brown lump into an owl; they are carefully placed in a scene to be photographed, but when the hands (and attached person) leave, the fun begins. The wolf begins to play with its own form, encouraging the owl to do the same. They go through a rapid series of transformations (the facial show more expressions are perfect; the "pig-ephant" is hilarious) and hurry to transform themselves back to their original shapes when they hear the sculptor returning...they don't do such a great job. Funny dialogue accompanies the even funnier clay forms, and a bowl full of googly eyes at the end leaves the possibility of a sequel.

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Re-read January 2021
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Re-read January 2023 show less