Baa Baa Smart Sheep

by Mark Sommerset, Rowan Sommerset (Illustrator)

Overview

Kids who love wicked humor will gobble up this tale of a trickster sheep and a comically gullible turkey. Ewww!

Little Baa Baa is bored. So when Quirky Turkey comes along, the opportunity to make mischief is too good to resist. “What’s that?” asks Turkey, pointing at a suspicious something on the ground. “What’s what?” “That there.” “This here?” “Yes, that there.” “Oh, it’s just a pile of . . . smarty tablets.” “Ohhh. . .” After a well-sustained buildup evoking hilarity and disbelief, this kid-pleasing trickster tale will have readers both groaning and laughing out loud at the payoff.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763680664
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/23/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.19(w) x 8.31(h) x 0.33(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mark Sommerset is a writer and part-time sheep interpreter. Rowan Sommerset grew up with lots of pets. Together, Mark and Rowan Sommerset create picture books from their home on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, where they live with their son, Linden.

Editorial Reviews

The Sommersets' tale of sheep mischief (there's a warning on the cover that the book contains such) is an amusing read-aloud, particularly if the dialogue is exploited to its full effect.
—Kirkus Reviews

There’s an innocent Boynton-esque silliness to the pencil and digital art in subtle earthtones, and butter wouldn’t melt in the mouth of the wide-eyed, fuzzy-faced, yet diabolical Baa Baa.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

...useful as a cautionary tale (it comes with a “Warning! Contains Mischief” label) to spark discussions about making foolish choices.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2015-10-14
Smart sheep? More like smartypants sheep. In this story told almost entirely in dialogue, Little Baa Baa is bored, but then Quirky Turkey comes along. They comment on the nice day. Then Quirky Turkey comments on a pile of round, brown somethings next to Little Baa Baa. When the fowl inquires about them, Little Baa Baa says they are "smarty tablets." Smarty tablets "make you smarter." When Quirky Turkey asks about the price, Little Baa Baa says they are "free…but only to turkeys." Inspecting the tablets closely, Quirky Turkey says they look like poo. And they smell like poo. " ‘Are you sure they're not just poo?' / ‘Smarty tablets?' / ‘Yes, smarty tablets.' ‘Like these ones?' / ‘Like those ones.' / ‘That you eat?' / ‘That you eat.' / ‘That are free?' / ‘That are free.' / ‘…but only to turkeys.' / ‘I'm a turkey!' / ‘Then why don't you help yourself?' " Quirky Turkey does and of course discovers they are poo and exclaims in disgust. Little Baa Baa crows: "See, you're getting smarter already!" The Sommersets' tale of sheep mischief (there's a warning on the cover that the book contains such) is an amusing read-aloud, particularly if the dialogue is exploited to its full effect. Every storytimer will giggle at the mention of poo, though their adults may be revolted. The earth-toned, pencil illustrations bring Mo Willems' Pigeon books to mind, but that's where the similarities end. Barnyard high jinks that won't be to everyone's taste (especially turkeys). (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews