Read the Book, Lemmings!

by Ame Dyckman, Zachariah OHora (Illustrator)

Overview

The team behind the New York Times bestselling Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! is back with new Arctic characters in this hilarious learning-to-read adventure!

Aboard the S.S. Cliff, First Mate Foxy reads an interesting fact: "Lemmings don't jump off cliffs." But Foxy can't get the lemmings on the Cliff to read his book, too. They're too busy jumping off.

After a chilly third rescue, exasperated Foxy and grumbly polar bear Captain PB realize their naughty nautical crew isn't being stubborn: The lemmings (Jumper, Me Too, and Ditto) can't read. And until Foxy patiently teaches his lemmings to read the book, he can't return to reading it, either!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316343480
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	865,593
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ame Dyckman is the award-winning author of That's Life!, Dandy, Read the Book, Lemmings!, You Don't Want a Unicorn!, Horrible Bear!, the New York Times Bestselling Wolfie the Bunny, and more. Ame lives in New Jersey with her family, pets, and hair bow collection. You can visit Ame on Twitter (@AmeDyckman).

Zachariah OHora is the illustrator of a number of children's books, including Horrible Bear! and the New York Times bestselling Wolfie the Bunny (both written by Ame Dyckman) and Who Wet My Pants? (by Bob Shea). His author-illustrator debut Stop Snoring, Bernard! was awarded the Society of Illustrators Founder's Award, and his book No Fits Nilson! was the Huffington Post Best Picture Book of the Year for 2013. He lives and works in Narberth, PA.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/11/2017
This latest crackpot comedy from the duo behind Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! stars three highly suggestible lemmings, a whale moonlighting as a freighter, a polar bear captain, and a fox first mate. The opening endpapers show a large sign about lemmings posted on an iceberg. “People used to think lemmings jumped off cliffs,” it says. “Now we know they don’t.” Across from the sign, a lemming jumps off a cliff. “Wonder what that says,” it muses, midair. “Me, too!” says the second. “Ditto!” says the third. The lemmings land aboard the freighter, where Foxy the mate reads from Everything About Lemmings: “Says here, lemmings don’t jump off cliffs.” Too bad the lemmings hear only “jump.” Foxy has to stage multiple rescues: “Why didn’t you read the book, lemmings?!” Though he teaches the three to read, the lemmings are always one step ahead (or behind). OHora’s scratchy, comically stiff figures and poker-faced humor beautifully embody the tale’s essential absurdity. And the lemmings’ final victory affirms that progress is possible even for the terminally silly. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Scott Treimel, Scott Treimel N.Y. Illustrator’s agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Winner of the 2019 North Carolina Children's Book Award
 Praise for Read the Book, Lemmings!:

* "OHora's charming illustrations with their primary color palette perfectly match Dyckman's playful text to produce a funny read-aloud that will hold up to multiple readings.... Children will enjoy this at storytime and again on their own at home. A first purchase for all libraries."—School Library Journal, starred review

*"OHora's scratchy, comically stiff figures and poker-faced humor beautifully embody the tale's essential absurdity. And the lemmings' final victory affirms that progress is possible even for the terminally silly."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Delightfully imparts the joy and discovery of reading-and many chuckles and guffaws."—Kirkus Reviews

"[A] goofy picture book guaranteed to please.... Literacy, laughs, and a light touch."—Booklist

"Dyckman's text is entertainingly patterned...and OHora's...illustrations play up the slapstick."—The Horn Book

"The charming illustrations and comedic plot will please young readers, and the lesson is clear, but not preachy: if you don't know, you can learn. This is a pleasant addition to any picture book collection."—SLC

"This is one giggly delight after another."—BCCB

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—Another delightful collaboration by the team behind Wolfie the Bunny and Horrible Bear! This story is set in the Arctic on a whale-shaped boat and it focuses on a trio of lemmings named Jumper, Me Too!, and Ditto!, who do not know that lemmings do not jump off of things because they cannot read. After repeated failed admonishments to get the lemmings to read the book, Everything About Lemmings, Foxy realizes that he has to actually teach the active lemmings to read before he can stop them from jumping off of the boat. OHora's charming illustrations with their primary color palette perfectly match Dyckman's playful text to produce a funny read-aloud that will hold up to multiple readings. The layouts are full of fun details and the animals' facial expressions are priceless. VERDICT Children will enjoy this at storytime and again on their own at home. A first purchase for all libraries.—Sarah Wilsman, Bainbridge Library, Chagrin Falls, OH

School Library Journal

2017-08-02
Lemmings don't jump off cliffs; someone just needs to tell the lemmings.Foxy, a crew member aboard the aptly named S.S. Cliff (a container ship that happens to be a whale), reads a fascinating book about lemmings. The book says that lemmings do not jump off cliffs. But when Foxy relates this tidbit to Capt. PB (presumably short for "Polar Bear"), three stubby little lemmings hear the word "jump" and gleefully throw themselves overboard. "Jump? I'll jump!" / "Me too!" / "Ditto!" Foxy fishes them out and urges them to read the book so they can see for themselves that lemmings do not jump off cliffs. "Jump? I'll jump!" / "Me too!" / "Ditto!" Off they go, over the side. "I don't think they read the book," Capt. PB says ruefully. After a few more foolish leaps, each one more perilous than the next ("Sinking! Sinking fast!" / "Me too!" / "Glub!"), Foxy realizes the lemmings cannot read. He works with them until they can all comprehend the most important words in the book: "Lemmings DON'T jump off cliffs," (earning a thumbs-up from curmudgeon Capt. PB). OHora applies his customary matte paints to his Arctic Ocean scenes, peach skies, teal seas, and white icebergs dominating the backgrounds. Foxy and Capt. PB make convincing if fuzzy tars, the lemmings look like tribbles with faces and stubby little legs, and it's nice to see a real working vessel in a picture book. Delightfully imparts the joy and discovery of reading—and many chuckles and guffaws. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews