Don't Copy Me!

by Jonathan Allen

Overview

“Don't copy me!” It's a refrain that's well-known to children, parents, and caregivers. Now it's Little Puffin's turn to say the words as three cheeky gull chicks follow him around, imitating his every word and step. And the more the puffin protests, the more the gulls enjoy their silly game. Can Little Puffin find a way to turn his frustration into a clever plan? With his usual wit and flair, author and artist Jonathan Allen turns a simple concept into a wildly entertaining tale. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781907967207
Publisher:	Boxer Books
Publication date:	03/06/2012
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Allen has created many wonderful picture books for children, including I'm Not Ready!, The Little Rabbit Who Likes to Say Moo, When the Snow Comes, and a number of stories starring Baby Owl. He lives happily in a quiet village in Cambridgeshire, England, with his wife, children, a dog, a cat, two guinea pigs, several guitars, and three computers.

Editorial Reviews

The hero of Allen’s Baby Owl books has insisted on various occasions that he’s not cute, not scared, and not sleepy. His new avian protagonist, Little Puffin, is no less outspoken, especially when he has three small gulls mimicking his every move. Throwing his weight around doesn’t help (“The Gull chicks weren’t at all scared. They seemed to be having a great time”), and neither does running away (“Small Gull, Tiny Gull and Baby Gull kept up with him easily. And what’s more, they copied the way he ran. How annoying!”). Little Puffin’s dilemma isn’t new, nor is his solution (sitting still until the gulls get bored), but Allen’s story is full of punchy dialogue and humorous details; children should get a particular kick out of Baby Gull, who can’t quite keep up (“G’way... Stop copy me!” is his version of Little Puffin’s “Go away, and stop copying me!”). Allen’s expressive digital illustrations, which render the birds as balls of fluff with eyes that either gleam (the gulls) or glower (the puffin), only add to the fun. Ages 3–6. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"The hero of Allen's Baby Owl books has insisted on various occasions that he's not cute, not scared, and not sleepy. His new avian protagonist, Little Puffin, is no less outspoken, especially when he has three small gulls mimicking his every move. Throwing his weight around doesn't help (“The Gull chicks weren't at all scared. They seemed to be having a great time”), and neither does running away (“Small Gull, Tiny Gull and Baby Gull kept up with him easily. And what's more, they copied the way he ran. How annoying!”)... Allen's story is full of punchy dialogue and humorous details; children should get a particular kick out of Baby Gull, who can't quite keep up... Allen's expressive digital illustrations, which render the birds as balls of fluff with eyes that either gleam (the gulls) or glower (the puffin), only add to the fun." --Publishers Weekly

 

From the Publisher

K-Gr 1—Little Puffin just wants to enjoy his walk in the fresh air, but he doesn't seem to be able to escape three young gull chicks bent on copying everything he does. First he tries scaring them away, then outrunning them, but to no avail. The three persistent chicks continue to mimic his every move. Finally, Little Puffin has an idea. He decides to sit very, very still so the chicks will have nothing to copy. The plan works, and soon the little gulls grow bored and wander off. But they don't go far, and just as Little Puffin thinks he is free to enjoy a nice, quiet walk, his unwelcome company looms right around the corner. The whimsical, digitally created illustrations are appealing and expressive, and complement the text quite well. Youngsters will get a kick out of the gull chicks' antics, especially Baby Gull, who can't quite keep pace with the others.—Debbie Lewis, Alachua County Library District, FL

School Library Journal

Here's Little Puffin, minding his own business and enjoying a walk when a trio of impish gull chicks turn up and start mimicking his every move. How can he stop Small Gull, Tiny Gull and Baby Gull from annoying him? He tries to scare them and outrun them before he finally tries to turn the tables on them by sitting very still. The little ones eventually fidget from boredom and walk away. But when Little Puffin moves on, it starts all over again. The creator of the Baby Owl books (I'm Not Scared!, 2007, etc.), captures both the playful spirit and the exasperation of this familiar game with clean, bold lines and clear colors against a white background. The game begins on the cover with "Don't Copy Me!" in large, fire-engine–red letters echoed by soft shading. There's a stern, no-nonsense look on Little Puffin's face as he towers over the little gulls, whose eager expressions show just how unperturbed they are. There's plenty of humor in the pacing of the predictable text, uncluttered pages and Allen's appealingly fluffy, wide-eyed birds. Young children acquainted with the pleasure of conspiring to annoy an older child and those who've suffered the indignity of being made fun of will enjoy seeing just who outsmarts whom. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews