““What’s this?!” a surprised Gnu seems to be wondering on the cover of this book. His gaze is on a cell phone in front of him. Where did it come from? What happens next? Readers will have many questions before they even open this book. The story begins—in art—before the text joins in. The title page shows a box falling from a truck. The impact causes it to open, and cell phones are bouncing down the road. The publication info page shows gnu and a variety of other animals holding the devices and gazing at them. The cartoon-like creatures are all drawn with vivid hues and strokes that evoke texture of fur and skin and scales. They are anthropomorphic (wearing clothes, using eyeglasses, walking upright, and so on) and unrealistic (snakes with arms? but how else would one hold a phone?). They are also, with their friendly eyes and tiny smiles, quite charming. Then the text begins: “One blue gnu, home all alone. One blue gnu with a new cell phone.” They’re not the only one with a snazzy new device! This is a cumulative counting book, and the gnu calls “two white sheep,” followed by “three orange apes,” “four red pandas,” and so on. It’s shaping to be quite a party! Soon, fifty-five animals are jumbled together, splashing in a pool and playing games. But then a tiger arrives. What will happen next? This is an outlandish and over-the-top story, full to the brim of fantastic fun. At the party’s end, count back to just gnu … and that first cell phone. A novel “what-if” concept for a counting up-and-down book, full of colorful characters and joyful celebration. Smith's rhyming text has a catchy rhythm that makes it a pleasure to read aloud. The only downside here is that little ones might start asking for their own cell phone. Recommended for preschoolers and early elementary students. ”—Heidi Hauser Green
INSIDE
One Blue Gnu
When a box of cell phones is accidentally delivered to the zoo, one blue gnu quickly calls two white sheep, who plan a party – beep beep beep! This illustrated picture book will keep young readers giggling and guessing to the end.
News of the party spreads to three orange apes, four red pandas and five green ducks… up until ten purple birds learn it’s party time! But oh no – who invited tiger, and who will he call on his new phone? ONE BLUE GNU is a fun and colorful romp at the zoo, where we count from one to ten and down again in one huge party!
Danna Smith is an award-winning author of over a dozen books for children, including The Hawk of the Castle (Candlewick, 2017), a 2018 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year, Swallow the Leader (Clarion, 2016), and three Little Golden Books.
Meet-the-Author recording with Danna Smith.
retail $17.99 your price $17.99
One Blue Gnu
When a box of cell phones is accidentally delivered to the zoo, one blue gnu quickly calls two white sheep, who plan a party – beep beep beep! This illustrated picture book will keep young readers giggling and guessing to the end.
News of the party spreads to three orange apes, four red pandas and five green ducks… up until ten purple birds learn it’s party time! But oh no – who invited tiger, and who will he call on his new phone? ONE BLUE GNU is a fun and colorful romp at the zoo, where we count from one to ten and down again in one huge party!
Danna Smith is an award-winning author of over a dozen books for children, including The Hawk of the Castle (Candlewick, 2017), a 2018 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year, Swallow the Leader (Clarion, 2016), and three Little Golden Books.
PRICE
Complete Series of 1: your price $17.99
“When a box of cell phones is mistakenly delivered to the zoo, one blue gnu calls two white sheep, and soon a party is planned. They are joined by 3 orange apes, 4 red pandas, 5 green ducks, 6 yellow snakes, 7 black yaks, 8 pink pigs, 9 gray hippos, and 10 purple birds. Everyone enjoys the festivities until the arrival of one striped (and hungry) tiger. Luckily, Tiger's meal plan involves phoning for pizza delivery, much to everyone's relief. Smith's smartly rhymed couplets extend this counting and color exercise into a fully formed narrative, while Zurita's colorful, cartoon-style art adds humorous contemporary details: the sheep knit and use a laptop, the ducks sport baseball caps, and the yaks dine out alfresco on a large sandwich. Bright, sunny colors predominate, signaling to readers that Tiger's arrival won't spoil the fun. Careful readers will note that the pigs (through a miss dial) are responsible for Tiger's presence, but the pizza resolves any problem. Both clever and contemporary, this will please screen-savvy toddlers. ”—Kay Weisman
“Danna Smith’s rollicking zoo story combines counting up to ten and back down to one, colors, numbers, names of animals, and an opportunity for some fun addition and subtraction for older children in a clever rhyming romp that kids will want to visit again and again. And let’s not forget friendship—that’s here in abundance too, as one group calls another to create one enormous bash! The added suspense of Tiger’s intentions is quickly resolved in a surprising and kid-favorite way that’s sure to please readers. Smith’s jaunty cadence is a joy to read aloud, and the non-stop action and exceptional vocabulary will captivate both kids and adults. Ana Zurita populates this zoo with adorable animals, depicted in vibrant colors set against textured and wildly detailed backgrounds that also accentuate the educational aspects on each page. Readers will love pointing out the colors and patterns of the animals’ clothes, counting the animals in each group, and recognizing ascending and descending numbers set in circles on each page. Humorous details also reward careful searching of the pages, such as a sneaky hippo trying to nab a cupcake and the yak’s “snack.” Tiger’s determined stride and furrowed brow will have kids guess, but only until the page is turned and the laughs ring out. Eagle-eyed future math whizzes may love discussing fractions as the pizzas are gobbled up, and saying goodbye to each group gives kids another chance to show their growing number skills. Sure to be an immediate favorite read aloud, One Blue Gnu is a must on home bookshelves and for all classroom and public library collections. ”—Kathy Carroll