Sticky, Sticky, Stuck!

by Michael Gutch, Steve Bjorkman (Illustrator)

Overview

Kids will love Annie, the heroine of the charming and funny picture book Sticky, Sticky, Stuck! by Mike Gutch.
 
Annie has a problem. She gets sticky—a lot. She can even get sticky in the bathtub. And sometimes it feels like the only time Annie’s family pays any attention to her is to tell her not to do something that will make her sticky—again.
 
When Annie tries to make a snack alone, some peanut butter makes her extremely sticky. Her mom, dad, brother, and sister try to help, but they all get stuck to her. The whole family ends up laughing, and for once Annie has all the attention she wants!
 
Hilarious color drawings by bestselling illustrator Steve Björkman bring Annie’s loving family to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061998188
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/04/2013
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

This is Mike Gutch's first children's book other than his unpublished "book" he wrote in third grade about New York State, which coincidentally is where he resides, in the town of Pelham, just outside of New York City. Mike lives with his wife and four children. When he's not making peanut butter and honey sandwiches for them or working for the Man, he's enjoying the great outdoors. If you'd like to send him a note on the book or advice on how to get anything unstuck, you can email him at [e-mail].

Steve Bjorkman has illustrated nearly one hundred picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy. He has also sold millions of greeting cards through Recycled Paper Greetings with his brother, Carl. Steve lives with his wife in Irvine, California.

Editorial Reviews

Björkman’s (Split! Splat!) hyperbolic, candy-colored cartoons are well-suited to the over-the-top premise of this earnest but long-winded story by newcomer Gutch. Annie’s parents and siblings are always plugged in to their electronic devices, and she feels as though no one has time for her, “Except to tell her that she was sticky!” They aren’t wrong: Annie either has bubble gum on her face and hands, chocolate syrup dripping from her elbow, or marshmallows stuffed in her ears. But Annie’s messiest moment comes when she tries to make a honey and peanut butter sandwich for herself. Startled by her mother, Annie precipitates a chain reaction that lands the whole family in a pile—all stuck together. They manage to call (and then call off) firefighters, after agreeing that being stuck together beats texting friends and playing video games alone. The prose can be overly wordy and, despite the intended silliness, kids may have trouble believing that a little honey and peanut butter could cause so much trouble. But there’s no missing the book’s message about family priorities. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Mark McVeigh, the McVeigh Agency. (June)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2—Dad's texting, Mom's on her computer, Brother is listening to music or playing video games, and Sister's talking on her cell phone. No one has time for little Annie. So, when she wants a snack and no one is available to help, she decides to make it all by herself. One peanut butter-and-honey sandwich coming up, or down onto the dog, in this case. The pup gets stuck in the muck and Annie sticks to the dog. Mom comes to help but gets caught in the mess. When Father, Brother, and Sister each try to pull the family apart, it's no use-they all end up stuck together. Becoming too tired to complain about their predicament, they finally reach for the phone, dial the fire department, and yell for help. But, since this is the first time in ages that the family members have gotten together and are communicating with one another, they find that they aren't in any hurry to get unstuck. A bit wordy, with an over-the-top goofiness, the silly story, illustrated in large, bright watercolors, delivers its blatant message to 21st-century families. A bit obvious, but all in good fun.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

A well-intentioned effort with an extra-sweet ending may briefly satisfy but ultimately leaves readers wanting. Little sister Annie is always getting sticky. A stuck lollipop on her nose, exploded bubble gum over her face, ice cream dripping down her arm and "marshmallow goop" clogged in her ears are Annie's distractions while her family members ignore her. They are too addicted to their own vices--video games, cellphone, laptop and what looks to be an iPad--to pay her much attention other than to be annoyed at the messes she makes. "One day Annie was hungry and went looking for a snack. As usual, everyone was doing their own thing, and there was no one to help Annie." In an attempt to solve her own problem, she creates a very sticky sandwich with peanut butter and honey. When Annie accidently falls onto her dog, she finds herself stuck to the surprised canine. One mishap after another causes each family member to get stuck as well, until they are all one exasperated heap. But Annie has an idea that requires everyone to pay attention to each other and work together. The fire department and a good deal of water follow, but Annie's family is having too good a time to become "unstuck yet." Björkman illustrates the antics but fails to add much to the text. Although many readers will relate to being technology orphans, little else will entertain in this rather bland tale. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews