You Loves Ewe!

by Cece Bell, Cece Bell (Illustrator)

Overview

A side-splittingly funny picture book about a silly donkey, a cranky yam, and an irresistible ewe, packed with hilarious homonyms and the distinctive humor of Newbery Honoree Cece Bell. For fans of P is for Pterodactyl. 

Hilarity meets homonyms in this high-comedy companion to I Yam a Donkey by Cece Bell. A persnickety spud, Yam, introduces the grammar-challenged Donkey to a new friend, Ewe, a lady sheep. The confusion between “ewe” and “you” results in a fabulously funny series of who’s-on-first misunderstandings, even though Yam explains the concept of homonyms to Donkey clearly enough for the youngest of readers to understand. Heightening the humor is an over-the-top love triangle, because everyone is in love with You. Err, Ewe. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day!
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328526113
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/26/2019
Series:	Yam and Donkey Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,132,926
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD360L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Cece Bell has written and illustrated many books for children, among them the beloved Sock Monkey books, the Geisel Award-winning Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover, and the Newbery Honor-winning graphic novel El Deafo. She and her husband, author Tom Angleberger, have also collaborated on the picture book Crankee Doodle and the Inspector Flytrap chapter book series. She lives in Virginia with her family.

cecebell.wordpress.com
Twitter @CeceBellBooks.

Cece Bell has written and illustrated many books for children, among them the beloved Sock Monkey books, the Geisel Award-winning Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover, and the Newbery Honor-winning graphic novel El Deafo. She and her husband, author Tom Angleberger, have also collaborated on the picture book Crankee Doodle and the Inspector Flytrap chapter book series. She lives in Virginia with her family.

cecebell.wordpress.com
Twitter @CeceBellBooks.

Editorial Reviews

Ah, the English language: Learning its quirks is a challenge for little readers and almost-readers, but Bell…brings irresistible humor to the task…With shades of Abbott and Costello, the comedy really lifts off.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

08/12/2019

Donkey and Yam (I Yam a Donkey!) are back, still divided by a common language. This time, the contretemps trigger is homonyms, thanks to the introduction of a “lady sheep” who is the object of Yam’s affections. “This is Ewe,” Yam says. “That is me?” Donkey brays. “I yam so cute and fluffy.” To explain the concept of “hummanums,” as Donkey calls them, Yam patiently employs word signs and other visual aids (showing the difference, for example, between doe and dough, moose and mousse). Full comprehension eludes Donkey, but one thing he knows for sure: while Yam and a ram are vying for Ewe’s affections, it’s up to Ewe to decide who she likes. Bell’s bright cartoon panels remain crisply drawn, tightly cropped, and gleefully in-your-face—a narrative dynamic that the target age should eat right up. Donkey is both transgressive and utterly secure in his daffiness, so youngsters can both savor the mischief he causes and take pride that they’re at least a few steps ahead of him. Ages 4–7. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Ah, the English language: Learning its quirks is a challenge for little readers and almost-readers, but Bell (“El Deafo”) brings irresistible humor to the task...with shades of Abbott and Costello, the comedy really lifts off."  — New York Times Book Review

"Ewe will love it! (You will too.)....the combination of language and images will have young readers in fits of giggles. The artwork beautifully conveys the zany hijinks....Hilarious. How will Yam and Donkey top this?" — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"[Bell] finds endless ways to prompt laughs through Donkey’s aggressively clueless expressions....bringing hilarity to a topic that often 'can bee confusing.'"—Booklist  "[C]risply drawn, tightly cropped, and gleefully in-your-face—a narrative dynamic that the target age should eat right up." — Publishers Weekly

""[E]nticingly bright, cartoon illustrations."  — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2019

Gr 1–3—Donkey and Yam from Bell's I Yam a Donkey are back. Yam introduces Ewe to Donkey and thus begins a lengthy misunderstanding about the words you vs. ewe. Yam explains homonyms and gives examples, which are illustrated in Bell's china marker and acrylic drawings. Moose? Or Mousse? The joke goes on a bit too long and readers old enough to understand homonyms and get the visual clues may be too old to find the mix up amusing. Younger readers drawn in by Bell's enticingly bright, cartoon illustrations may be confused by the concept. VERDICT Possibly useful as an introduction to a grammar lesson, but readers are unlikely to gravitate toward this bit of silliness on their own.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

School Library Journal

★ 2019-07-24
Ewe will love it! (You will too.)

Bell introduces readers to a humorous trio: the studious, bespectacled Yam, the slow-witted Donkey, and the titular, and mostly silent, Ewe. Donkey kicks off the foolishness in initially mistaking the anthropomorphic tuber and the female sheep for fellow donkeys. When Yam corrects these errors and explains that "this is Ewe," the snowball of wordplay begins its long descent down the hill of wackiness. Along the way, readers learn what a homonym is. Bell fits a lot into the story, making good use of speech bubbles and sequential panels across spreads of the picture book. She also keeps the humor interlaced with moments of learning that play well with the page turns. The artwork is bold, with thick, black lines and bright, simple colors, so it will play well to the back of a storytime room or classroom. Some adults may find the multiple voices to be a challenge as a solo reader, but it's well worth the effort, as the combination of language and images will have young readers in fits of giggles. The artwork beautifully conveys the zany hijinks. Following the pupils in Donkey's googly eyes as it thinks about each new concept is a silly joy in itself.

Hilarious. How will Yam and Donkey top this? (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews