Giraffes Ruin Everything

by Heidi Schulz, Chris Robertson (Illustrator)

Overview

In this mischievously funny picture book, friends come in all shapes and sizes.

In case you were wondering, here's an incomplete list of things giraffes ruin:
- Birthday parties
- Going to the movies
- Playing at the park
- Hide and Seek
- Everything else

Yes, that's right. Giraffes ruin everything.

But what happens when our narrator gets into a tricky situation? Perhaps he'll find giraffes aren't so bad after all . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619634756
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	08/16/2016
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author and self-proclaimed giraffe suspicioner, Heidi Schulz, lies to children for fun and profit. She is best known for her bestselling novel for middle grade readers, Hook’s Revenge, published by Little Brown Books, and her picture book Giraffes Ruin Everything, published by Bloomsbury. When she is not writing, Heidi can be found in her Salem, Oregon home attempting to corral her two unwieldy dogs, sewing herself yet another fit-and-flare dress, or working through her bottomless stack of nightstand books.
www.HeidiSchulzBooks.com
@HeidiSchulz

Chris Robertson has worked as an illustrator for magazines and newspapers and as a storyboard director for Nickelodeon Animation Studios. He lives in Pasadena, California, with his wife and three boys.
www.chrisrobertsonbooks.com
@booksbychrisr

Editorial Reviews

05/30/2016
It’s hard to believe that there’s anything worse that having to hang out with a younger sibling, but Schulz (Hook’s Revenge) and Robertson (Little Miss Liberty) have found it: a giraffe. Their redheaded narrator just can’t shake a pesky giraffe that is always in the way. “A giraffe will eat the ice cream right off your cone from half a block away,” the boy notes as the giraffe uses its neck to be as intrusive as possible. “A giraffe will win at hide and seek,” he continues, startled out of a nap by the grinning animal. “Even if you are not playing.” But when the boy is himself accused of ruining everything and the giraffe bails him out, he discovers a new reserve of empathy. In an age where hurling accusations about someone else’s shortcomings has become something of a social norm, this is a gentle but firm reminder that patience and understanding have their rewards. Robertson’s easygoing cartooning, with its hints of 1960s-style animation, makes it an easy lesson to learn. Ages 5–7. Author’s agent: Brooks Sherman, Bent Agency. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

'Bright digital illustrations enliven this cheeky tale. A young child learns to navigate the nuances of social relationships, with help from a spotted, lanky friend." - Kirkus Reviews

"A gentle but firm reminder that patience and understanding have their rewards. Robertson’s easygoing cartooning, with its hints of 1960s-style animation, makes it an easy lesson to learn." - Publishers Weekly

"Brightly colored illustrations complement the text perfectly and are very engaging. Young readers, especially animal lovers, will want to read this book. It would also make an entertaining read aloud for story time." - School Library Connection

"A heartwarming lesson of learning to understand and accept friends as they are. . . . This cute offering about friendship is a solid choice for storytime and individual sharing." - School Library Journal

"Whether a fan of J.M. Barrie's classic tale or new to Neverland, readers will be clamoring for more from this enchanting world." - starred review, School Library Journal on HOOK'S REVENGE

"Readers will delight both the story and the storytelling." - starred review, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books on HOOK'S REVENGE

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—What starts off as a story about how awful being friends with a giraffe can be turns into a heartwarming lesson of learning to understand and accept friends as they are. A giraffe's long neck and large stature can be challenging at a party or on the playground and may block people's view at the movies, but as the story continues, readers learn that a giraffe's neck can also be useful in retrieving items that are stuck in a tree, like a kite. The pastel-hued cartoon illustrations emphasize how large a giraffe can be compared to a small child. The giraffe dominates every page. The ending hints at a sequel about how elephants ruin everything. VERDICT This cute offering about friendship is a solid choice for storytime and individual sharing.—Vivian Ho, Port Washington Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2016-05-14
Towering legs and long necks can get in the way of a friendship.The unnamed, rosy-cheeked, white narrator ticks off facts about giraffes—yes, they are tall. Yes, they are gentle. But this little tot is sure about one more thing. Looking directly at readers, hands splayed in exasperation, the child proclaims, "Giraffes ruin everything." Whatever you do, don't invite a giraffe to a birthday party. He will slurp the punch with his long tongue and not even apologize when he stains your shirt. (The giraffe is referred to throughout as male.) And at the park? The giraffe will hog the entire slide; his feet will be at the bottom, but his head will still be at the top. Plus, he can steal your ice cream from half a block away! Giraffes really do ruin everything. (The poor giraffe looks more and more devastated each time he is declared unfit for friendship.) But maybe, just maybe, a giraffe would be helpful to have around sometimes. Especially when friends are quick to shout that you ruin everything. When the tables are turned, suddenly all mistakes seem more forgivable. Bright digital illustrations enliven this cheeky tale. A young child learns to navigate the nuances of social relationships, with help from a spotted, lanky friend. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews