Somewhere in the Bayou
by Jerome Pumphrey (Author)
Simple, subtle, and drolly funny, the Pumphrey brothers’ newest picture book is a layered exploration of the foolishness of making assumptions and the virtue of curiosity.
When four swamp creatures looking to cross a river come upon a log that would allow for precisely that, they can't believe their luck. But a questionable tail adjacent to that log gives them second thoughts. Opossum believes it's a sneaky tail and that they must pass it quietly. Squirrel thinks it's a scary tail that can be cowed by intimidation. Rabbit decides it's a mean tail that deserves a taste of its own medicine. As the critters exhaust approaches one by one, Mouse, the smallest of the lot, observes their folly and adjusts accordingly. But is it the mouse or the tail that will defy expectations?
Pairing their iconic illustration style with a wry irreverence, the Pumphrey brothers have crafted a delightful tale that reminds us to think before we act.
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Publishers Weekly
Told in comics-style panels alive with sound words and woodblock-style artwork that befits the story's folktale feel, this tale by the Pumphrey brothers (The Old Boat) opens as a rabbit, an opossum, a squirrel, and a mouse look for a place to cross a bayou. Pale, milky colors evoke the trees' cool shadows as the four animals pull up short at the sight of a fat, green tail next to a log in the water. The opossum is first to brave the threat. "There's only one way past a sneaky tail," it declares, and tiptoes across the log, which wobbles before a "SMACK" and "SPLASH" see the animal sinking into the drink. The rabbit and the squirrel have their own respective strategies for the "scary" and "mean" tail, resulting in two more splashes. Only the mouse's curiosity and humility create a different outcome, drawing the owner of the tail to the surface. Underneath the humor, echoes of wisdom can be heard in this sinewy, laugh-out-loud picture book about the way arrogance can lead to disaster. Ages 6-8. Agent: Hannah Mann, Writers House. (Mar.)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
JUV039120 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
Picture books
Bayous
Problem solving
