The No-Nothings and Their Baby - Hardcover

Mazer, Anne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0590680498 ISBN 13: 9780590680493

Publisher: Arthur a Levine, 2000

Synopsis

When Mrs. No-Nothing goes into labor, she and her husband head straight for the sign that says "Fast Delivery," proving just how silly this pair is, but they are also truly devoted to their genius baby.

About this title

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 3-The No-Nothings, like Sue Denim's "Dumb Bunnies" (Scholastic) and Harry Allard's "Stupids" (Houghton), are not too swift. They diaper their newborn's head, arms, and legs instead of her bottom and they try to feed her french fries. Luckily a nurse intervenes and parents and Betty enjoy their bottles. At home they try to put the baby in the shower for a surprise baby shower but the neighbors save the day. Unfortunately, no one is there to stop them from piling into the stroller with Betty and launching themselves down a hill. It is Betty who, escaping injury, is shown phoning for help. The text, full of bold print and colored type, is enhanced by the exuberant cartoons. In their outlandish outfits, the No-Nothings twist and caper across the pages while wide-eyed Betty looks alternately bemused and long suffering. The book is visually lively and well laid out, but ultimately tries too hard to be funny. The stiffer posing of the "Dumb Bunnies" and the "Stupids," who appear against relatively flat picture planes, coupled with their matter-of-fact texts in staid type heighten their absurdity. There is also something unsettling about these parents who are continually placing their infant in harm's way. For the slapstick humor that kids love, stick with these earlier favorites.
Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Intellectual kin to James Marshall's The Stupids, Dav Pilkey's Dumb Bunnies and not to be confused with Michele Sobel Spirn's Know-Nothings, Bertram Reliable Butternut No-Nothing and his wife Doriana Hiccup Whatsername No-Nothing seem unlikely parent material. Yet they confidently pull up to a fast-food window and request the "speedy delivery" of their baby. After being redirected to the hospital next door, Bertram and Doriana meet their infant daughter and learn about bottle-feeding: " 'That looks good,' Mr. No-Nothing said. 'I'll have one.' 'Me too,' said his wife." Later, they hop into the tub for a "baby shower." Mazer's (The Accidental Witch) deadpan dialogue sets up silly sight gags that reveal the adult No-Nothings' blithe ignorance and their baby's unforeseen smarts. Collins stocks the images with visual jokes, like a "5TU PID" license plate and upside-down tulips in a vase. He pictures the couple as gawky, big-eared twits with dopey grins, who never wear more than one shoe between them. The vignettes have a campy glee occasioned by the No-Nothings' mismatched clothes, and a nervous energy amplified by the slapstick child-rearing. This book confirms that adults are dangerously dim and that daughter knows best; however, the baby doesn't commiserate with the audience, so there's no sympathetic character. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4-8. In this silly, slapstick story, Mr and Mrs. No-Nothing, an enthusiastic but misguided couple a la Harry Allard's books about the Stupids, have a baby--fortunately, a very smart one. Three episodes relate how good intentions go awry, mostly through their literal interpretations. In "The Birth," the couple joyfully heads for the fast-food drive-through advertising "speedy delivery"; "The Shower" provides a festive, if wet celebration for guests and family alike; "The Walk," involves a stroller mishap, in which clever baby Betty saves the day by phoning for help. Kids may not always get the puns and humor without adult explanation, but they will enjoy the wacky antics of the goofy parents and bewildered, ultimately resigned Betty. A witty, lively text encourages expressive read-alouds; bright, whimsical illustrations, appropriately chaotic, abound with color, action and humorous detail. Note: this is not to be confused with The Know-Nothings easy-reader series by Michele Spirn. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Arthur a Levine
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590680498
• ISBN 13: 9780590680493
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Collins Ross
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40