"Poems that will be perfect for animal lovers, with gorgeous illustrations worthy of framing."
—Kirkus Reviews
"The museum-quality artwork in this oversized coffee-table style volume is big and beautiful, the verses are clever and funny, but it's the concept behind You Stole My Name that is unique, original, and sets it apart from all other pet and wildlife picture book collections for young children. Matching similar names given to two different species of animals, You Stole My Name by author/illustrator Dennis McGregor is a totally unique and immediately to be treasured addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community."
—Midwest Book Review
"You Stole My Name is, simply put, a work of genius. Cleverly composed and beautifully illustrated, it delights youngsters and oldsters alike, while exploring the wonders of the animal kingdom and the strange and glorious English language."
—Jim Cornelius, editor, The Nugget Newspaper
"Exquisite, vivid illustrations and an engaging story will bring plenty of smiles and spark young imaginations. My granddarlings loved it. Yours will too!"
—Marie Bostwick, New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
"Dennis McGregor’s captivating illustrations are a delight on their own—but pair two similarly named creatures together and you have compound magic. With its wonderful use of color, light, and word play, You Stole My Name is a feast for the eyes and a treat not just for the kids it’s geared toward, but for the adults who get to explore its pages before giving it to the children in their lives."
—Nicole Vulcan, editor, Central Oregon’s Source Weekly newspaper
"You Stole My Name and its sequel, You Stole My Name Too, are two of my all-time favorite picture books! With beautiful illustrations accompanied by clever verse, these books are a joy to look at, entertaining to read, and sure to elicit laughs when read along with kids. And they're educational to boot! What more could you want?!"
—Lane Jacobsen, owner of Paulina Springs Books
"Absolutely astoundingly gorgeous illustrations in this charming picture book that celebrates the natural world. A kangaroo rat meets a kangaroo, a spider monkey greets a monkey; each of these mini poems and paintings celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of life on our planet and is a perfect gift for kids obsessed with animals."
—Caleb Masters, inventory manager at Bookmarks
"My first-grade class absolutely adores You Stole My Name and You Stole My Name Too. The charming illustrations paired with clever rhymes make these books a delightful experience for young readers. They bring joy to our reading time and spark laughter and engagement among the kids. The educational content woven into the stories adds an extra layer of value. These books have become a favorite in our classroom, a perfect blend of learning and fun."
—Krisi Guerra, elementary school teacher
★ 2023-06-08
Pairs of animals show their similarities and differences in this illustrated collection of short poems on shared names.
The kangaroo and the kangaroo rat have a lot in common, so the kangaroo doesn’t mind that the rodent uses the same name. The chicken is a bit less keen on sharing hers with the predatory chicken hawk, however. Across these pages, animals show their matching colors—including the parrotfish and the parrot and the zebra finch and the zebra—or give details that highlight their differences. At one point, a dog entertainingly addresses a dogfish in an aquarium: "You don’t wag and you don’t bark. / You’re no dog! You’re a shark!” The poems vary in theme, with some in the voices of animals wondering why they’ve been named after another creature. The paintings are consistently enticing throughout; McGregor, a talented artist, uses minimal backgrounds to help bring out the details of each highly realistic creature. Children who’ve graduated from John Butler’s similarly beautiful animal-themed books will be ready for this slightly more complex text. The short poems have some lovely alliteration (the cowbird’s style choices are said to “feature feathers over fur”), making this well suited for emergent readers.
Poems that will be perfect for animal lovers, with gorgeous illustrations worthy of framing.
