How to Catch a Clover Thief

by Elise Parsley

Overview

This hilarious tale about problem-solving and ingenuity from bestselling author-illustrator Elise Parsley celebrates nonfiction books as a way to build skills and smarts!
 
All Roy the wild boar wants is to enjoy his precious patch of delicious clover . . . but every time he turns around, his tasty treasure seems to be shrinking! Who's stealing his favorite meal from right under his snout? To make the tedious job of standing guard by the clover patch day and night more bearable, Roy's neighbor Jarvis the gopher helps by lending his never-ending stash of fascinating books that absorb Roy's attention—as the patch disappears bit by bit. All of that reading makes for a very smart boar, though . . . and in a surprise table-turning twist at the end, Roy might just get the better of that sneaky clover thief!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316534284
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	02/09/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Elise Parsley has written and illustrated the New York Times bestseller If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, DON'T! and three other stories about Magnolia, as well as Neck & Neck. She also illustrated The Magic Word by Mac Barnett. Elise and her family live in South Dakota, and she invites you to visit her website at eliseparsley.com.

Editorial Reviews

* "Parsley channels the irreverent spirit of classic Warner Bros. cartoons in this battle of wills and books, with digital drawings framed and composed to land every comic beat. And while Roy spends much of the story fuming, sulking, or throwing a tantrum, he's quite a loveable lug."—Publishers Weekly

* "An engaging and humorous first purchase, equal parts read-aloud and laugh-out-loud."—School Library Journal

"In both text and illustration, Parsley strikes a distinct, humorous tones for each character, and the twist at the end is giggleworthy and offbeat...[a] wily nod to the power of reading."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2020-11-18
A clever—er, clover—thief is outwitted.

With immense joy, a scruffy boar finds a big patch of green clover. He quickly sprawls across it to claim his territory. The clover needs just a bit more time to bloom; Roy is willing to wait. However, he warily eyes his neighbor, Jarvis, a gopher who would also enjoy munching on the sweet, green treat. “Don’t even think about stealing my patch of clover, Jarvis,” Roy grumbles. Jarvis assures Roy he would never do such a thing. But he does have a cookbook that he would like to share. It’s called How To Cook With Clover. Roy starts to read the recipes and is inspired. When the book calls for added ingredients, Roy ambles off to find them. When he returns, part of his clover patch is gone! Roy is furious. He resolves to guard his clover day and night. But Jarvis keeps offering books…and Roy’s clover patch keeps getting smaller and smaller. That is—until Roy goes to the library to find “the right book.” In both text and illustration, Parsley strikes distinct, humorous tones for each character, and the twist at the end is giggleworthy and offbeat. There is a distinct Looney Tunes feel to the story, enlivened by both the literary theme and the fact that their relationship, though antagonistic, is not that of predator to prey.

A wily nod to the power of reading. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews