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3.59 AVERAGE


I know this family is suppose to be "comically" boring but I can't help but be slightly depressed at how awful the parents are.

My heart ached for the Dullard children, who were unlucky enough to be born to parents who avoided excitement at all costs. Both adults and kids will enjoy the humor in this story, and the illustrations elevated the text perfectly.

This book is pretty darn funny, but a lot of the humor comes from comparing the text to the silly illustrations which might be hard to convey in larger storytimes. Either way, it reminded me of when my mom used to read "The Dumb Bunnies" to me and my brothers before bed and we'd analyze every page for the funny jokes hidden within the illustrations which gave me some warm fuzzies.

Cute - expected a little more humor

Amazing.

This goofy book focuses on a couple who are trying to raise their children to follow their much beloved dull lifestyle; however the kids have their own plans.

Love the fun names of their kids: Blanda, Borely, and Little Dud.

bethmitcham's review

4.0

A fun snarky meta book with illustrations that amused me. I liked the long skinny arms highlighting details and the quiet way the kids never rebelled but also never acquiesced.

tashrow's review

5.0

The Dullards are a very boring family and that’s just the way that Mr. and Mrs. Dullard want it to be. But lately their three children, Blanda, Borely and Little Dud, have been giving then bad shocks. The children want to read books, play outside, and have fun. The parents are so horrified that they move to a duller neighborhood. Once there though, they need to make sure their home is boring enough by getting rid of the colorful wallpaper and then watching the paint dry. Even that won’t stop their children though, so they move back to their original home, just in time for the circus to come to town. Luckily for their children, the Dullards sleep very soundly.

Pennypacker offers an inventive riff on The Stupids, one that embraces the dull side of life. She perfectly captures the humor of a family wanting to just be bored all of the time, taking it to such a level that the humor is laugh-out-loud funny. From their reaction to chunky applesauce to asking to have the vanilla flavor removed from their ice cream, the book is a joy to share aloud. Beautifully, the humor is delivered in the ideal deadpan manner, matter-of-fact and with a straight face (of course). The Dullards wouldn’t have it any other way.

Salmieri captures the gray dullness of the Dullard’s lives very nicely, using images like the children watching an unplugged TV and seated on the bare floor. He contrasts that with the children who may be dressed in the same dull colors but are independent thinkers who add color in many other ways. The illustrations add so much to the book, creating those moments where the children are doing their own thing much to their parents dismay.

Funny and vibrant despite its dull subject, this picture book is sure to get even the most bored children giggling. Appropriate for ages 4-6.