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Library | Call Number | Status |
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Searching... McMinnville Public Library | Rosenthal | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | ROSENTHAL | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
When a restless red-headed boy proclaims: "Nothing ever happens around here!" (And who hasn't heard that complaint at home?), he kicks a can and sets into motion a series of wonderfully hilarious slapstick events that happen behind him--and because of him. With elephants on parade, pirates around every corner, pies flying, and oranges on the loose, Rosenthal creates an adventure-filled world that is anything BUT boring! Kids will love the silly sounds that abound (Skree, Boing, Ploink), making Phooey! a feast for the eyes and ears.
Talented artist Marc Rosenthal presents a madcap tour-de-farce, with excitement and surprises on every page.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-When he kicks an empty can of cat food from a lawn, a boy who repeats, "Nothing ever happens around here" triggers a chain reaction of mishaps that ultimately changes his mind about his neighborhood. The can hits a sleeping cat, who is chased by a dog through a town populated by pirates, a policeman, a zookeeper, cowboys, and a woman with a funny hat. The bored boy remains oblivious to the havoc that continues when an elephant, frightened by the chase, breaks free from the zoo. It sets loose a rolling barrel of kippered herring that hits a ladder and spills a painter's bucket, causing the baker's tray full of pies to go flying. The antics continue through the town, until the elephant halts abruptly to enjoy a lost bag of peanuts, sending the cat spiraling through the air and into the boy's arms. "This place is great!," the boy exclaims as the cuddly cat purrs next to his smiling face. Color cartoon drawings show the humorous progression of the chaotic events in a nearly wordless layout that balances detailed activity with white space so the eye can rest. Facial expressions and onomatopoeia add to the wackiness of the scenes. Best enjoyed one-on-one or with a small group, the book is sure to win over its audience. -Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Island Branch Library, Stevensville, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
(Primary) With artistic nods to Herge, H. A. Rey, and Jean de Brunhoff, Rosenthal brings us an amusing, nearly wordless book about a little boy who thinks that ""nothing ever happens around here!"" The opening page shows the redheaded narrator kicking an empty cat-food can and hollering, ""PHOOEY!"" With his head down in disgust, he completely misses the trajectory of the can as it bonks awake a cat in a tree. Rosenthal's grumpy little hero makes his way through the city, complaining about his boring town while a dog chases the cat, spooking an elephant, who bolts from the zoo, knocking into a man with a barrel, which gets loose and knocks over a painter on a ladder, and so on. The action is more old-time movie than modern picture book (one can almost hear the lively piano music speeding up and slowing down as the slapstick unfolds). Youngsters will be entranced by the hilarious scenes and will have no trouble telling where the story line is moving. When the boy finally smiles in the end, the reader will smile right along. For those who wonder why comics and graphic novels are so popular, this completely engrossing extravaganza provides more than enough explanation. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.