Whatever - Hardcover

Bee, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763628867 ISBN 13: 9780763628864

Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2005

Synopsis

It takes extreme measures to get a response out of the stubbornly indifferent Billy in a wry little tale that readers of all ages will surely relate to.

Billy can be very difficult to please. Show him something very tall or very small, and he'll say, "whatever." Let him play inside the bounciest castle, and he'll shrug and say, "whatever." Take him for a ride in the smokiest train or the speediest spaceship — it doesn't matter. Billy's reaction is always the same. What might the surly boy say if a hungry tiger came by and his nonchalant dad gave Billy a taste of his own medicine? William Bee's quirky illustrations give an amusing new spin to a familiar scenario that will have both children and adults laughing in recognition.

About this title

About the Author

WILLIAM BEE was born in London but now lives in the English countryside. In addition to writing children's books, he races a vintage sports car, is an international skier, and when at home, tends his lawns and meadow. William Bee loves Saturdays, the color green, tabby cats, the Queen, Rolls-Royces, fruit scones, David Niven, and, of course, staying home in Suffolk.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 2–A cautionary tale with spare text and striking graphics. Billy can be very difficult to please. Indifferent to his father's attempts to engage or impress him, the child responds to each try with an unenthusiastic …whatever. Dad plays the world's curliest trumpet, bounces Billy off the bounciest castle, and even takes him on a trip to the edge of outer space. Yet each effort fails to garner more than the same bored reaction. After the world's hungriest tiger fails to scare the impassive youngster, the animal swallows Billy whole. Dad! I am still in here you know.... In a fitting turnabout comes Dad's reply, …whatever. Bold, digitally created illustrations on stark white pages (except for outer space, which is on blue) engage the audience and mirror the humor in this slightly callous story that is reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's Pierre (HarperCollins, 1962). Children will enjoy the scrolls and curves of the curliest trumpet and the ridiculous image of Billy being bounced out of the bounciest castle, and recognize that the large, orange tiger is a creature to be reckoned with, even if the unconcerned Billy does not. Children will take pleasure in the book and get a laugh as well.–Piper L. Nyman, formerly at Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA
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Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick Press
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763628867
• ISBN 13: 9780763628864
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40