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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This Indies Next Pick is a fun read for kids and grownups. It's set around the Dullard family - who have cleverly named their kids Blanda, Borely, and Little Dud - and it's this style of writing that Sara Pennypacker uses to play with words in this very sarcastic look at life in the dull house of the Dullards. Perfect for the kids who complain of boredom, or who secretly long to run away to the circus. The book says it's for 4-8, but I'd say 6-8 - unless your four-year-old is versed in sarcasm.
The Dullards don't want their children to grow up being lively, or creative or imaginative. When they buy paint for the walls in their new house they fear the plain gray will be too exciting, and order gray mixed with an oatmeal color. When they think their children have become overstimulated Mr. and Mrs. Dullard order them to watch TV (which they do without turning it on).
Point of lolment: When Mr. and Mrs. Dullard discover the wallpapered room, the paint can for beige shows a picture of a slice of bread (how dull).
Blanda, Borely, and Little Dud are a bit stifled by their parent's complete removal of creativity and imagination from their lives. The writing is tongue-in-cheek and kids will be rolling with laughter while the listen to the daily life of the most boring family imaginable. Wait! Don't imagine. That's far too excitable of an activity.
Blanda, Borely, and Little Dud are a bit stifled by their parent's complete removal of creativity and imagination from their lives. The writing is tongue-in-cheek and kids will be rolling with laughter while the listen to the daily life of the most boring family imaginable. Wait! Don't imagine. That's far too excitable of an activity.
The Dullards of Meet the Dullards aren't dysfunctional. That would be too interesting. Truly, they're just boring, and they like it that way. Well, their children don't. Blanda, Borely, and Little Dud often become, in a word, restless. Isn't there more to life than watching paint dry? Their parents really prefer their ruts and routines, but that probably just won't be enough to satisfy their kids.
Sara Pennypacker and Daniel Salmieri have created the most delightfully mundane family whose story is not dissimilar to that of many other families, but the Dullards' take the cake when it comes to preventing their interests from being piqued. Terrifically illustrated (don't tell the Dullards though - they just want to be boring).
Sara Pennypacker and Daniel Salmieri have created the most delightfully mundane family whose story is not dissimilar to that of many other families, but the Dullards' take the cake when it comes to preventing their interests from being piqued. Terrifically illustrated (don't tell the Dullards though - they just want to be boring).
Proof that picture books aren't just for primary age readers. Hilarious and sophisticated.
I was prepared to find this one...well, boring. At first glance this isn't a book that appeals to me. However, the juxtaposition of the text with the story told in the artwork was hysterical. A particular two-page spread featuring wallpaper had me in stitches and made the book for me. THIS is how a picture book should work. What fun!
Clean for kids, but also fun for adults. The humor in this is easily one for the more mature audiences. This is one to really pay attention to what is happening in each image, as well as the words. The older kids had fun going over the names of the kids, how this family didn't even have pillows to sleep with and what it would be like to literally watch paint dry all day. All were much happier with the families they already have. What a BORING book this was for us all....