Publishers Weekly
05/03/2021
Featuring the humanoid creatures and amusingly literal lexicon for which Pyle is widely known via Instagram, this addition to the Strange Planet oeuvre follows Lifegiver and Offspring, two family members intent on learning more about a creature in their home. On a bright pink background, the two wide-eyed blue beings plan to observe a creature—“covered in thousands of soft fibers” whose “mouth stones are sharp”—that readers will recognize as a white cat. Equipped with “distant-observers” (binoculars) to view the entity and an “ink cylinder” (pen) to document their observations, the intrepid onlookers also plan to “use our bodies to mimic the creature” to learn “just how amazing” it is. After a long day of following and learning about the feline, including grasping takeaways such as “the creature can hide in tiny spaces” and “the creature vibrates when happy,” all three take a well-deserved “creature nap.” Pyle’s tidy comics style and limited color palette centers the deadpan vocabulary as much as the art, and humor directed at categorizing concepts and building observational skills is an added bonus for young readers. Back matter includes a visual vocabulary aid. Ages 4–8. (June)
From the Publisher
Pyle’s signature pink-and-blue comic panels expand to full-page spreads in this clever ode to cats...school-aged children will find it simultaneously absurd and hilarious. A great choice for young readers beginning to explore graphic novels, this is an essential purchase, ready to tickle children and adults alike.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
"The hyperliteral phrases are sure to provoke readers’ laughter…kids might just hone observational skills too [and] surprise their adults with new vocabulary; families who read it together may be inspired to make up their own. Don’t be a stranger to this one." — Kirkus Reviews
“Pyle’s tidy comics style and limited color palette centers the deadpan vocabulary as much as the art, and humor directed at categorizing concepts and building observational skills is an added bonus for young readers. Back matter includes a visual vocabulary aid.” — Publishers Weekly
“Done in the style of his humorous cartoons on social media, Mr. Pyle conjures an alien parent and child with classic sci-fi bald heads and huge eyes. The speech of these beings has a kind of courtly impartiality that makes it extremely funny.” — Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal
Done in the style of his humorous cartoons on social media, Mr. Pyle conjures an alien parent and child with classic sci-fi bald heads and huge eyes. The speech of these beings has a kind of courtly impartiality that makes it extremely funny.
Wall Street Journal
Done in the style of his humorous cartoons on social media, Mr. Pyle conjures an alien parent and child with classic sci-fi bald heads and huge eyes. The speech of these beings has a kind of courtly impartiality that makes it extremely funny.
School Library Journal
★ 05/01/2021
K-Gr 3—"There is a creature prowling around our home! It is covered in thousands of soft fibers and its mouth stones are sharp!" Based on his popular comic series "Strange Planet," Pyle debuts with the tale of strangely humanoid blue beings, Lifegiver and Offspring, studying the behavior of a "sneaking, hiding, vibrating creature." Lifegiver and Offspring observe this indoor household creature sneaking silently across the floor, scratching the "group-soft seat" with its "deathblades," and knocking over "hydration cylinders." Digitally drawn, Pyle's signature pink-and-blue comic panels expand to full-page spreads in this clever ode to cats. Preschoolers may need help crossing into Pyle's land of succinct analysis and commentary on human behavior, but school-aged children will find it simultaneously absurd and hilarious. Adult readers familiar with the comic series frequently shared on social media will also enjoy sharing this book with children. Readers new to Pyle's cunning and unique descriptions may appreciate the list of "Commonly Observed Objects" at the end of the book. VERDICT A great choice for young readers beginning to explore graphic novels, this is an essential purchase, ready to tickle children and adults alike.—Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI
Kirkus Reviews
2021-04-14
Pyle brings his Strange Planet cartoons to a child audience with a little help from a “strange furry creature.”
Introduced first on Instagram, then in book-length collections for an adult audience, Lifegiver and Offspring are two blue extraterrestrials intent on understanding Earth. They build this understanding through observations articulated through hyperliteral phrases that are sure to provoke readers’ laughter. After arising from a “rest slab” (bed), Offspring joins Lifegiver for a breakfast of “criss-cross floppers” and “sweet sauce” (waffles and syrup) before they begin recording their observations of a strange creature in their midst. Readers will recognize this creature as a white cat and will get a kick out of how the ETs describe and attempt to reenact its behaviors as it hides, sneaks, climbs, knocks things over, “observe[s] a flying creature” (a bird), plops down on their “observations document” (notebook), “vibrates when happy” (purrs), and rests. The uncluttered cartoon style allows the wry text to command attention, and while having a good laugh may be the main takeaway here, kids might just hone observational skills, too, and be inspired to pick up their own “ink cylinder[s]” (pens) to draw or write down their thoughts about the world around them. Kids who read this independently may well find extra fun in surprising their adults with new vocabulary; families who read it together may be inspired to make up their own. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Don’t be a stranger to this one. (Picture book. 5-12)
