04/03/2017
Having established that he’s big, gray, and not wearing any pants, a young elephant hits on the obvious conclusion: “I’m a boulder.” The elephant’s—er, boulder’s—enthusiasm wanes when he discovers that boulders aren’t any good at responding to knock-knock jokes. (His mother is likewise less than thrilled to find her offspring racing around the forest without his overalls on.) Watkins follows the brash absurdity of Rude Cakes with a quieter, though still quirky, offering. The elephant’s loneliness hangs like a cloud over the story—and clouds are yet another identity the elephant tries on, given that he’s gray, puffy, “and... nope. Clouds never wear pants.” The elephant’s internal monologue and external outbursts move the story forward, and commentary from acorn-juggling squirrels and perplexed owls adds comic relief. “Whooo knewww clouds could walk?” wonders one owl as the elephant sobs after the bird it was playing with flies away. Washes of muted color and careful pencil detailing capture the swings of the elephant’s emotions, and although he doesn’t have much luck on the friend front, his mother’s softening attitude toward pants-free fun suggests brighter days ahead. Ages 3–5. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (May)
"Pete and his mother discover the joy of being seen for who you are and for having the freedom to express that.pants or no pants."-The Horn Book Magazine
"Pete and his mother discover the joy of being seen for who you are and for having the freedom to express that.pants or no pants."-The Horn Book Magazine
"Huge fun."—The New York Times
"Huge fun."—The New York Times
"The escalating humor is tailor-made for little ones, as is the gentle affirmation that being oneself is the best thing of all."—Booklist
"The escalating humor is tailor-made for little ones, as is the gentle affirmation that being oneself is the best thing of all."—Booklist
"Good for some laughs."—Geek Dad
"Good for some laughs."—Geek Dad
"Many hidden delights."-School Library Journal
"Many hidden delights."-School Library Journal
"This is a book you will no doubt want to read aloud again and again"—Books and Whatnot
"This is a book you will no doubt want to read aloud again and again"—Books and Whatnot
"A lovely, absurd little tale with humor both jubilant and sardonic."-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A lovely, absurd little tale with humor both jubilant and sardonic."-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
06/01/2017
PreS-K—Boulders don't wear pants. Squirrels don't wear pants. So why should carefree little gray elephants have to wear pants? Oh yeah, because Mom said so. This quirky tale mixes images with spare text as it follows Pete the elephant through his imaginative romps. Mom trails after him, holding his britches with her trunk. The whimsical, sketchy illustrations seem simple but have many hidden delights, such as boulders coming to life and woodland creatures peering out from behind branches. Children might enjoy finding the small bird who observes the scenes on most of the pages and occasionally makes itself known with a "coo coo!" and other recurring images of acorns, worms poking out of the ground, and owls. The illustration of Pete tucked in his bed at night surrounded by pictures of his pachyderm family and images from his daily life is especially sweet, and the expression on the face of the elephant mother as she empathizes with her son in the end is touchingly recognizable. The offbeat humor is similar to that of Those Darn Squirrels and other Adam Rubin/Daniel Salmieri books, though less text-heavy. Fans of Rudecakes will be happy to see a new book by this author/illustrator. VERDICT A fun addition for silly storytimes and kids who love underwear jokes.—Suzanne LaPierre, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
2017-03-29
Pants can be such a hindrance when it comes to imaginative play.Pete is a young elephant with a great imagination and a love of knock-knock jokes. Pete, whose discarded pants are hanging in the branches of a tree on the copyright page, first imagines he is a boulder: he's big, he's gray, and he's not wearing pants. Cleverly, Watkins depicts Pete's fellow (real) boulders with tiny lines that evoke closed eyes and mouths, but regardless, they fail to respond when Pete initiates a knock-knock joke. Perhaps Pete is a squirrel? He's gray, he likes acorns, and he's not wearing pants. At this point, Watkins introduces several actual squirrels who form a peanut gallery making humorous asides, their job taken over by a group of owls later on, confusing Pete for other animals and things and repeatedly referring to his pants (or lack thereof). Mom is unimpressed with Pete's pantslessness, but the next day, after Pete experiences more disappointments on the knock-knock front, she steps in to play with her child, his forgotten pants in her hand as she joyously picks him up with her trunk. Watkins' artwork recalls a combination of Maurice Sendak, Laurent de Brunhoff, and Mélanie Watt. Pete is rather blocky, and the squirrels are manic. Knock, knock. Who's there? An awesome mom of a kid with no pants. (Picture book. 5-8)
