That's Life!

by Ame Dyckman, Cori Doerrfeld (Illustrator)

Overview

From the New York Times bestselling creators Ame Dyckman (Wolfie the Bunny)and Cori Doerrfeld (The Rabbit Listened) comes a witty send-up of inspirational greeting card wisdom that reminds readers of life's unpredictability and messiness—and beauty.
 
After Life literally knocks on their door, one kid discovers that Life is truly what you make it. It's weird and may not always cooperate, but Life's beauty becomes apparent when it's embraced for all of its quirks. This story is filled with tongue-in-cheek idioms that will appeal to readers of all ages and will impart deeper wisdoms about life's many milestones.

Ame Dyckman's clever text combines with Cori Doerrfeld's sweet illustrations to create the perfect gift for readers who are starting school, moving, graduating, or imparting on any new phase of life. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316485487
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/31/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,068,934
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ame Dyckman is the award-winning author of You Don't Want a Dragon!, How Dinosaurs Went Extinct, Dandy, Read the Book, Lemmings!, You Don't Want a Unicorn!, Horrible Bear!, the New York Times bestselling Wolfie the Bunny, and more. You can visit Ame on Twitter (@AmeDyckman).
 

Cori Doerrfeld is the author-illustrator of Beneath and the New York Times bestselling The Rabbit Listened and has also created art for such books as Help Mom Work from Home! and The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig. Cori lives in Minnesota with her husband, two children, and rescue dog, Jinx. You can visit Cori at coridoerrfeld.com
 

Editorial Reviews

12/09/2019

In this idiomatic adventure, Life is an impish, furry, and highly mutable critter that, when it emerges from a mysterious crate (one that pops up “when you least expect it”), not only charges toward the young protagonist fast, but also adds a big, slurpy kiss. Life arrives with no instructions, of course, and promptly launches the protagonist on a whirlwind series of vignettes set against a white background—“You never know where Life’s gonna take you,” Dyckman (Dandy) writes as the two bounce from Lady Liberty to Pisa’s leaning tower. As the meaning-of-life clichés deliberately pile up—who knew there were so many?—it’s up to Doerrfeld (Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!) to give them a visual boost; she accomplishes this through crayonlike digital drawings that are by turns semifigurative interpretations (in “Life is what you make it!” Life turns into a raft that takes the child for an exhilarating waterfall ride) and naughtily literal (for “Your whole Life can flash before your eyes,” Life moons the child). The mood is always upbeat—or, at the very least, maintains a “dust yourself off and keep going” attitude—with plenty of reminders that whatever life is, it is for sure one wild ride. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Scott Treimel, Scott Treimel NY. Illustrator’s agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for That's Life!:
 
"[H]umorous, kid-friendly, and clever [...] a level of fun that will satisfy readers of all ages."—Kirkus Reviews

"A terrific reminder to readers of all ages that life, in all forms, is worth treasuring."—Booklist

"The mood is always upbeat—or, at the very least, maintains a 'dust yourself off and keep going' attitude—with plenty of reminders that whatever life is, it is for sure one wild ride."—Publishers Weekly

"[Readers] starting a new phase in life (say, kindergarten or a move) may appreciate the physical manifestation of their feelings and assurance that everything will be okay."—BCCB

"Sure to be a choice for…graduation gifts, this sweet…story offers an alternative to Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/27/2020

K-Gr 3—A cute and fluffy gray creature, Life, guides a child through the unexpected and wonderful experiences that life has to offer. There are many important messages shared: life is weird; life goes on; life knocks you down, but if you shake it off, life can be sweet again. The vibrant and adorable illustrations of Life and the child help save this from being just a gift book full of clichés. This title could be shared at a read-aloud featuring other inspirational message books like Peter H. Reynolds's Say Something. VERDICT Sure to be a choice for 2020 graduation gifts, this sweet but greeting-card stock story offers an alternative to Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go.—Elaine Fultz, Oakwood City Schools, Dayton

School Library Journal

2019-11-10
Life—personified as a wild, furry gray creature—brings many surprises in this picture book about loving your Life no matter what.

A small, brown-skinned child sits at a table writing on a pad of paper when there is a knock at the door. Who could it be? "Oh, that's Life! Life happens when you least expect it." The child opens the crate, labeled LIFE, that sits on the doorstep. A furry gray creature jumps out, then drags the child on all sorts of adventures. Every conceivable saying about life is worked into the text ("Life's a journey"; "Life is full of surprises"). Life changes form throughout, becoming a means of transportation (a boat, a camel, a hot air balloon), a suitcase, and a bull with pointy horns ("Life can be tough. And sometimes…Life hurts!") Doerrfeld's visual interpretations of Dyckman's text are humorous, kid-friendly, and clever, featuring soft-lined vignettes of busy, active scenes on white space. The silly concreteness of the illustrations raises the intentionally cliché-packed text to a level of fun that will satisfy readers of all ages. Young readers will enjoy watching Life's ups and downs, and they just might internalize a true lesson or two about their own lives.

Both a lighthearted reflection and an entertaining read. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews