Guess Who Just Moved in Next Door - Hardcover

McNaughton, Colin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679818022 ISBN 13: 9780679818021

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers, 1991

Synopsis

An assortment of monstrous neighbors becomes increasingly apprehensive about the strange new family that's just moved into the neighborhood.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- From its delightfully ghoulish cover to its fold-out panorama of outlandish characters, this visual feast combines the detail of Base's The Eleventh Hour (Abrams, 1990) and the cleverness of Handford's Where's Waldo? (Little, 1987). McNaughton's watercolor cartoons abound with puns, sight gags, and touches of whimsy. With few exceptions, everything mentioned in the text--and more--appears in these delightful illustrations. Presented in serviceable rhyme (which is a bit forced at times), McNaughton's story tells of a group of neighbors who are horrified when outsiders buy a house on their street. The newcomers, of course, turn out to be normal humans--parents, kids, and pets--who seem incredibly strange to the longtime residents. The neighborhood denizens are a mixed bag, ranging from nursery-rhyme favorites (the Dumptys) to superheroes (Superman), from legendary characters (Santa Claus) to historical figures (Michelangelo, not the Ninja Turtle), from Hell's Angels to movie monsters. The theme of fearing those who are different in some way seems particularly relevant in our multicultural society, and it is unfortunate that the ending spoils the message of tolerance by having the vampires flee to Transylvania rather than face the newcomers. Nevertheless, the book is cleverly designed, and its often-sophisticated humor will allow it to be appreciated on several levels. --Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, Wheeler School, Providence, RI
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews:

A one-idea story with a predictable conclusion but lots of intriguing details: As the reader progresses along a street of oddly shaped row houses inhabited by figures from folklore, storyland, and popular culture, sprightly verse enumerates the present neighbors and reiterates a refrain: ``Have they seen who's just moved in/Next door to us?'' A concluding foldout reveals the not-so-extraordinary new neighbors, a stereotypical nuclear family startled to find themselves surrounded by pirates, three pigs, King Kong, monsters, etc. Good pore-over fun. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0679818022
• ISBN 13: 9780679818021
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32