11/23/2020
In this collaboration by the creators of Special Delivery, intrepid pilot Sadie turns the spotlight over to her aunt Josephine, a bonneted dowager whose intrepid spirit is undimmed by age. She’s still in bed when a loud knock sounds on the door one morning. “It could be a vacuum salesman,” Aunt Josephine calls from under her quilt. “Or more likely, a suitor. But I tell you this! I am quite satisfied with the state of my carpets. And my days of romance are but a memory.” (Stead excels at this particular brand of palaver.) This reminds her, naturally, of the giant frog that swallowed an admiring admiral’s son when she was “blissfully bivouacked in the jungles of Peru” in her youth. Feeling obliged to catalog the frog—if not to save the boy—she chases it across the world, visiting the Canary Islands (littered with small yellow birds) and the Taj Mahal, accumulating a menagerie of companions along the way. Cordell’s loopy, frenetic drawings savor her journey’s every inanity: sailing a bathtub, riding a whale. The waning British Empire tone of Stead’s story bears a family resemblance to Hoban’s Captain Najork books, and the punch line feels a bit abrupt. Still, any vehicle for Cordell’s sweet-tempered mayhem is a treat. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Jr./Folio Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary. (Feb.)
★ "Cordell's illustrations have the loose, but quite detailed, feel of Quentin Blake, and depict Aunt J's untidy home filled with memorabilia. The font size changes, depending on the knocking, shouting, barking, grunting, or crowing going on at each moment, which adds liveliness to an already vigorously engaging story. A fit ending will please children who will be enthralled with the action and entertainment Aunt J's tale brings."—Booklist, Starred Review
★ "This quirky readaloud is accentuated by Matthew Cordell’s scribbly pen lines and watercolor, showing great detail in Aunt Josephine’s grand adventures and adding background bonuses that are bound to make rereads interesting. Aunt J is comically verbose in her stories, and younger viewers will likely pick up on some new vocabulary through her tale. This hilarious story would be well suited for a lapsit storytime or any situation that requires a good laugh."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
★ "Large, handwritten block onomatopoeic words will draw in readers’ eyes while perusing this picture book. . . . The book culminates in an ending young readers won’t see coming, and one that will certainly illicit more than one or two giggles. The vocabulary is complex, which will likely prompt some questions and discussion. Cordell’s illustrations, done in pen, ink, and watercolor, are just the right level of humor for the narrative."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
"Text and art duel with each other to make the antics more and more outlandish, and every page-turn yields an unexpected and wonderfully ridiculous plot development. . . . All the while, someone keeps knocking at the door, where the perfect ending awaits on the other side."—The Horn Book
"More female-powered action from an inspired creative team."—Kirkus Reviews
"Cordell’s loopy, frenetic drawings savor her journey’s every inanity: sailing a bathtub, riding a whale. . . . any vehicle for Cordell’s sweet-tempered mayhem is a treat."—Publishers Weekly
★ 12/24/2021
K-Gr 4—Large, handwritten block onomatopoeic words will draw in readers' eyes while perusing this picture book. The story opens with Sadie and her Aunt Josephine, who are white, hearing a knock at the door. Aged Aunt Josephine, who is lying in bed, yells, "Close the curtains, Sadie! Turn out the lights! It could be a vacuum salesman. Or more likely, a suitor." Stating that she has earned a rest, Aunt Josephine launches into a tall tale—like account of her life accomplishments and travel stints cataloging amphibians. During this time, a potential suitor became mesmerized with Aunt Jo's beauty: "And as he stood transfixed, he was suddenly, swiftly…swallowed by a giant frog." The remainder of the book details a chase after the frog across several continents on interesting vehicles like a bathtub, rhea, and a whale, to name a few. The book culminates in an ending young readers won't see coming, and one that will certainly illicit more than one or two giggles. The vocabulary is complex, which will likely prompt some questions and discussion. Cordell's illustrations, done in pen, ink, and watercolor, are just the right level of humor for the narrative. VERDICT A must purchase for libraries looking to add an extra bit of silliness to their picture book collection.—Tracy Cronce, Stevens Point Pub. Sch. District, WI
2020-12-15
Following Special Delivery (2015) and The Only Fish in the Sea (2017), a third adventure from Stead and Cordell finds young Sadie playing a supporting role to elderly Aunt Josephine, whose tales of past adventures drive the action.
Aunt J directs Sadie to ignore the persistent knocking. “It could be a vacuum salesman. Or more likely, a suitor….I have been the world over, Sadie, and today—I will sleep past noon.” But instead of sleeping, she spins a yarn. Beginning with her work as a 9-year-old member of a multiracial scientific team in “the jungles of Peru,” Aunt Josephine recounts sighting a giant frog as it swallows the young son (smitten with her) of the recently deceased expedition leader. The frog’s escape begets Aunt J’s around-the-world journey. “For though I didn’t care much for the admiral’s son, I do abhor a job unfinished. And it was my job to catalog that frog!” Cordell’s visual drollery embellishes the exploits, which include Josephine’s dog, a rhea, a parrot, a tortoise, an ordinary frog, and a few canaries. Thought-bubble vignettes show the group at Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and the Roman Colosseum. Over years, a pith-helmeted Josephine hikes, bikes, dives, and pilots a helicopter—all in exuberant but vain pursuit of that frog. Cordell provides hand-lettered display type for some text along with a houseful of domestic animals and visual clues to Josephine’s and Sadie’s prior adventures. A final page lets readers discover the source of that knocking. Hint: it’s no vacuum salesman. Both Sadie and Aunt J present White.
More female-powered action from an inspired creative team. (Picture book. 4-7)
