Me and Annie McPhee

by Olivier Dunrea, Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

Overview

A cumulative counting book and rollicking read-aloud, full of fun for readers who love This Is the House that Jack Built and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

In the middle of the sea,
as far as the eye could see,
there was nothing to see but sea.

Nothing but sea and 
one tiny island just big enough for me.
Just big enough for me and Annie McPhee,
who was no bigger than me.

But what begins as an empty island in the middle of the sea becomes fuller and fuller as readers turn through the pages. Meet two wee dogs who think that they're frogs, three perky pigs that are all wearing wigs, four frumpy hens who are hunched with their pens — and more! The lonely island "just big enough for me and Annie McPhee" might not be so lonely after all!

Praise for Me and Annie McPhee:

"It’s light, cheery fun, full of verbal and visual silliness."—Publishers Weekly

"A bouncy rhythm—and full-on shouted conclusion—can't be beat."—Kirkus Reviews 

"Preschoolers and kindergartners will delight in this two-in-one cumulative counting tale that’s just right for reading aloud."—School Library Journal 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399168086
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	06/14/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Olivier Dunrea (www.olivierdunrea.com) is the bestselling creator of the Gossie books as well as Little Cub, Old Bear and His Cub, A Christmas Tree for Pyn, Hanne's Quest and many others. He lives in Dearborn, Michigan, and Narrowsburg, New York.
 
Will Hillenbrand (www.willhillenbrand.com) grew up in Cincinnati listening to stories told by customers at his father's barber shop, which he would then go home and draw. He turned his love of humorous tales into a career by becoming a picture-book author and illustrator, and he has worked on over 50 books for kids. Will now lives in Terrance Park, Ohio, with his wife and son.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Me and Annie McPhee:

"It’s light, cheery fun, full of verbal and visual silliness."—Publishers Weekly

"A bouncy rhythm—and full-on shouted conclusion—can't be beat."—Kirkus Reviews  
 
"Preschoolers and kindergartners will delight in this two-in-one cumulative counting tale that’s just right for reading aloud."—School Library Journal  

From the Publisher

2016-03-16
Two curious monkeys think they are alone on an island in the middle of the sea. The narrating monkey stares through a pair of binoculars and begins the repeating refrain: "In the middle of the sea, / as far as the eye could see, / there was nothing to see / but sea." Quite full for a deserted spot, the tiny island the monkeys are stranded on has a volcano, a cave, boulders, and three coconut trees. With each page turn, however, animals start to emerge from the crevasses, so the narrator needs to adjust the ever expanding, cumulative verse. Suddenly there are also "two wee dogs who thought they were frogs" and "three perky pigs all wearing wigs." From one to 10, more and more animals come, painted with exuberant anthropomorphism by Hillenbrand (the punk-tressed pigs in grass skirts are a special treat). He plants cues in his mottled, digital spreads to help observant readers predict what creature may come next. Annie McPhee (the narrator's original monkey pal) grows increasingly worried as the crowd expands. By the time "ten rascally rats skipping in hats" come prancing by, poor Annie McPhee has had enough. A certain spout on the cover (and dedication page) hints at the monkeys' escape plan. There's not much new under the sun, or in the sea, but a bouncy rhythm—and full-on shouted conclusion—can't be beat. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews