Toby Tootles

by Stephanie Gibeault, Mary Sullivan (Illustrator)

Overview

Toby is having the best birthday party ever until an ill-timed and unintended toot draws unwelcome attention and teasing. Poor Toby—he is so embarrassed! And now everyone is calling him "Tootles." To get out from under his cloud of shame, Toby goes to visit his grandmother, hoping to get some sympathy and understanding. But as it turns out, Grandma is a bit of a gasbag herself with her own windy issues. She toots not once, not twice, but THREE times during Toby's visit. And she's not even embarrassed about it! But Toby is. He's embarrassed by her and for her. It's only when Toby is facing another digestive episode that he realizes maybe it's time to follow Grandma's lead and not let little things get in the way of enjoying life. After all, gas happens! A sweet and funny lesson on how to handle life's hiccups and other unexpected "eruptions."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534111790
Publisher:	Sleeping Bear Press
Publication date:	03/15/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 7 Years

Editorial Reviews

05/08/2023

A bunny named Toby learns how to handle embarrassment after he passes gas while preparing to blow out candles at his birthday party, prompting the nickname “Tootles.” In pages that shift abruptly from festive opening scenes, Toby visits his grandmother in the hopes of forgetting his “gassy gaffe.” As the pair embark on comforting activities including baking cookies, playing catch, and biking to the grocery store, Grandma repeatedly passes gas, causing Toby to relive his earlier feelings of discomfort. Even as nearby animals react dramatically (a squirrel drops its acorn stash upon witnessing one toot), Grandma shrugs, “Hey, gas happens,” modeling an easy-going response that Toby soon has occasion to emulate. Sullivan’s fine-lined cartoon illustrations display a complex range of facial expressions from Toby as he responds to his grandma’s gassiness. The intergenerational relationship at the center of this sensitive story helps guide it to an instructive resolution. An author’s note concludes. Ages 6–7. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

2022-11-29
“Gas happens!”

Birthday boy Toby, a white rabbit, is in full celebration mode and ready to blow out his candles when something happens: He blows from the wrong end. His friends—a menagerie of animals—laugh and his sister calls him Toby Tootles. Humiliated, Toby spends time with his grandmother, a gray and white rabbit, and observes her having a few gassy gaffes herself. Unlike Toby, Grandma isn’t concerned and tells him that “gas happens.” When the pair are eating out at the end of the day, Toby needs to break wind once again and, remembering Grandma’s advice, takes it in stride this time. A note from the author reminds readers that embarrassing moments happen to everyone and what matters is how we respond to them. Etiquette-minded caregivers and educators may be annoyed that Toby and Grandma don’t excuse themselves when passing gas, but even the most adamant advocates for proper manners will have to agree that the story is pretty darn cute. The illustrations are largely to thank for this, as the round-bodied characters have expressive faces that perfectly capture their emotions, especially Toby’s self-consciousness when toots are fired. The simple message is one that readers of all ages should embrace. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Three toots for an intrepid hero who conquers embarrassment with aplomb. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews